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EEMINISCENCES 



THE WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 



TH0KA8 W. GUDOEON, 




LONDON: 

SAMPSON LOW, MAESTON, 8BABLE, 4 HIVINGTON, 

AUCKLAND : K WAYTE. 

1879. 



ttU i^Ui rucnal.] /T 






pBnmD Bv wiLLUM OLovn and k 



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■Shis Koik 

IS BESPECTPULLT DEDICATED BT 

THE ADTHOB 

TO THE COLONIAL FORCES OF NEW ZEALAND, 

CAME FORWARD SO OAIAiSTLT IN DEFENCE OF THEIR H 
IN THE OOUNTBY OF THEtH A 



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INTRODUCTION. 



The beet metbod of goTeming the imtiTes of the laUnde 
of New Zealand having been a oontinnal Bonroe of dU- 
cnssion up to the present time, it wonld be well to con- 
aider the policy adopted by the Home GoTemment, and the 
reeult obtained ; for when Gieat Britain took poesession 
of these Islands, the policy hitherto adopted by ciTilised 
nationa towatds savages was altered. Instead of assuming 
sovereignty over them, and then dealing out the benefits 
of civilisation, as they oonld comprehend and enjoy them, 
a treaty was made whereby they were aoknowledged the 
lords of the soil, and on their part they agreed to sell their 
land as the Government required, for immigration pnrpoaes. 
This agTeemeTit the Maoriee fell into readily ; the waste 
lands of the country were of no valne to them, as they 
were alike unable and anwilling to cultivate more than 
was required for their own gardens; neither could they 
regard their land as hunting gronnds, as the North 
Americans did, for no animals existed exoept the rat, nor 
bird, with the exception of the pigeon or parrot, for them 
to make an article of food of. The uncultivated lands of 
New Zealand were nothing but barren fern wastes and 
bush, which the nativee offered- in miles to the first 
settlers for a blanket or a gun. But as the British Govern- 
ment began this policy, so would it carry it through, and 



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VI INTEODUCTION. 

the early settlers (the pioneers) were made to di^^rge the 
gifta of the natives, and pay a fiiir price before any lands 
were alienated. It was the absolute worthlessnesa of the 
waste lands in the eyes of the natives on oar first arrival 
that led to all the after dispntes ; for, finding the laod after 
the Pakehas' imprevements changing hands amongst our- 
selves at mach higher prices than they originally obtained 
for it, they not only began to increase their demands, bnt 
to protest against fonner sales ; and to appease them, many 
large Uocka of land were repnrohased by the Government 
' at a considerable increase, to be, after all, given bach to 
the native owners in order to avoid a war. And so onn- 
ning had the natives become, Aat in the blocks offered by 
ihem for sale, they not onlymanaged to inolnde thonsanda 
of nearly nseless acres, bat to mark ont all the best parts 
as reserves, so that by the time the Qovemment had paid 
for the presents necessary during the negotiations, the 
agreed price per acre, expenses of snrvey, &o., &c., they 
were in many instances considerable losers by the transac- 
tion; and the natives, findingthat the more they demanded 
the more they obtained, the chlefe, being mostly native 
assessors with good salaries, finished by entering into a 
league, proclaimed a king, and declined to sell any more 
land. Thus was a treaty founded in good faith and love 
for our fellow man, be he black or white, upset by the 
avarice or obstinacy of the parties benefited. 

On the day I landed at Taranaki twenty-seven yeare 
ago. Sir Gteorge Grey, then Qovemor, was argning with 
the natives at a meeting held on the beach the question 
of the Waitara block, already twice purchased by the 
Government. Negotiations for the quiet occupanoy of 
this block had then extended over a period of ten years. 



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INTBODUCTION. Til 

and at hut was only settled by oonqneet after ten years* 
farther patience, backed by indnoemeutB of expensive 
presents of flour, sngar, blankets, and ^nns. So let no 
one aocose the Gayenunent of not keeping their part of 
the tresty as well as their patienoe. Governor Gore 
Brown, who had in the meantime suoceeded Sir George 
Grey, was a man eminently adapted to govern the natives, 
being possessed of too maoh firmness of oharaoter either to 
trifle, or to sabmit to being trifled with. Finding that all 
previonsnegotiationB had failed, and that the more he gave 
way the greater wore the demands, he decided to occupy 
the Waitara lands so fairly purchased, a resolution which 
led to the resolta I have taken upon myself to relate. 
From the oommenoement of the war in 1860 down to 
1664, the colonial forces took only a subordinate part in 
the campaign ; but the time was at hand when they would 
have to take the fleld not as auxiliaries as heretofore, but 
as principals unsupported by the Imperial troops, and 
depending solely on their own exertion for success. The 
Imperial forces, in consequence of representations made to 
the British G overnment by the commanding officer (General 
Cameron), were being slowly but sorely withdrawn, and 
that at a most critical time— when the spread of the 
Hanhan religion through the Island had embroiled us with 
the whole Maori population, with the ezoeption of the 
Napohi tribes of the extreme north. Perhaps it was bb 
well it was so, for to this drcnmstance we owe the self- 
reliant policy of Messrs. Weld and Stafford ; and whatever 
difference of opinion may exist as to the wisdom of that 
policy, it had the efieot of training the settlers into a 
firm and well-grounded belief of their capability, if well 
bandied, of dealing with the Maori difSoDlty in its wont 

L, ,z,;i.,C00gIC 



TIU INTRODUCTION. 

fonn. The TaranaM settlers, where the war conunenoed, 
probably fonght and suffered more than any other men 
in New Zealand ; yet they would langh at the idea of not 
being a match for the most active and daring of their 
foes. With the political aspect of affitirs as the war pro- 
ceeded, I shall not deal ; they have already been treated 
by abler pens than mine; my task, self-imposed, is a 
lighter one — a simple narrative of events, of skirmishes 
and expeditions grandiloquently called campaigns, in 
which the colonial forces of this country took a more or 
less prominent part. 



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CONTENTS. 



P mlimiiia ry Chapter ...... 1 

L Laodliig of Troopi at Wangutni .... 2 
IL OaloDialFoicMDiiderliDperl&lBiileiBKttUorWalmkB 9 
HL Oolonial Fotoet ander Imperial Bnle — oontinued: 
Battles or Haboetahi, Hankn. Wkiraa Bangea, Wkuui 
etream, Orabn, Bangiaehia, Haerini, and Te Matata 14 
IV. The Origin uid PiDgr«M of tb« Hanhao Beliglon 2S 

Y. Pn^ren at the Hanliati Bel^iou : Ahn Aim and 

eentrrHOl 27 

TL Progren of the Hanhan BaUgion — eotUinutd: Kr. 

Booth'* Adventnn 31 

Tn. Fn>gT«M of the Hanhan Beligion—sioaMmMtl: Battle 

of Hoatora and Ohotahi U 

VttL Frogrew of the Hanhan Bellgion — eonHnued : Umder 

of the BoT. Hr. Voldkner and of Mr. Polloon . 40 

IX. Capture of the 'Wetaioa Fah 46 

X. Belief of PipMbl 60 

XI. The OpotiU Expedition : The Landing ... 66 
Xn. The Opotiki Expedition— omiMniMd : Taking of the 

PnaPah . 69 

XIIL The Opotiki Ezpedittoo— «mli)HMd .- Adventnre with 
Eenopa and hie Twelve Apoetlee— Swrender of 
Hokontoko and Hakania— Betnm at the Foioe to 

Wangauni 74 

XIT. The Bait Cooat Expedition : Waiapn—Attaok on 

Pakairomiioml Pah 81 

XV. East Coast Expedition— eoniinaal .- PoTort; Baj 89 

XVI. Eaat Caa«t Expedition— conli'ntMJ : Te Hani Blam and 

Te Eopani 97 

XVIL Murder of KeriU, of Mr. Charlea Brooghton, and of 

Trooper Smith 103 



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XVin. Goneral Chute'a Campftign ; The Fight at OkotiOn. 107 
XIX. General Cbute's Campaign— eonh'nu«d : Figbt at Ts 

PntatuBiidOtapawa — Narrow Esoape of the Oeaeial 111 
"^X , Gsneml Chnte'a Campaign — eorttinued : Ketemaiae 

— Mareh to Tamnalri— Fight at Waikoto . . IH 
XXL Colonel HcDonneU't Campaign : Fight at Pokaikal 120 
XXII. Colonel HoDonneU'a Cumpaigit— amfinued : Te 

Pungarehn 126 

XXm. Colonel MoDonneira Campaign — eontinntd .■ Te 

Vma, Fopoia, TirotiioiDoaDa, Botonia . 1S3 

XXIT. BUnnithei on the Ea«t Coast : Wonderful Eioape of 
WilliiDion and LiTingatone — Mnider of Mook and 

Begg« Ml 

XXT. Skirmiehes on the Bact Coset — rtmtinued: Colonel 

SL John at Opotlki -Murder of Mr. Fitoaim . 119 
XXTI. Outbreak at Napier— The Tight at Omanmni and 

Fetane under Colonel WMtmoie . . IM 

XXVIL Titokowam'* Ontbreak : Tear of the Lamb— Colonel 
MoDonnall and sixty Armed Conatabulaxj sent to 

BoklUka 161 

XXTni. Betom &om Hokilika : First and Second Tiiit to Te 
Ngntn o te mana— Murder of Cahill, Clark, and 
fiquirea ........ 165 

XXnc. BanhauB' Attack on Tnru Turn Miikai : Death of 
Captain George Bow, Sergeant McFadden, Cor- 
ponJ Blake, and Beren Frivatee .... 170 

XXX. First attack on Te TSgata o te mann with the dot 

Levies 17S 

XXXI. Second Attack on Te Ngatn o te manu : Death of 

Tod Tempakj, Captains Buck and Palmer, 
liieutenante Hunter and Eastinga ISO 

XXXn. The important DifFbrenoe between DiBoipUned and 
Undisciplined Men, a Fact never suffloientl; re- 
cognised b; tlLe New Zealand Gtovemment : Deatli 
of the Traitor Kimball Bent— Taotioa of Tib>- 

kowara 189 

SXXm. Beoonnoifaring the Hanhan Position at Taiporo- 
henni — Beaignation of Colonel McDonnell ; Colonel 
Whitmon takea Command — Murder of CoUiui and 
MoCollooh 195 



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CONTENTB. 



XX2tV. B*tUe of Hotanw: Death of Oaptaln Hnnto^ 
One-fbnrtb of the Hen engiiged either lulled oi 
wounded— Colonel Whitmoie fkUi Uck on Nnkn- 

XX5T. Five hundred Hanhuu within % !)»;'■ Huoh of 

WuigMinl— Coltnel Whitmora niddenly ordered 

with kll hii KTmilsble Feme to Porer^ Bftj, Te 

KooU hftving moHMted the Bettlem there . . '. 

XS.XVL Te Kooti— Hii Ekospe from the Ghkthui Iglaadi 

sod Dtnding at Whareoagaonga, FoTert j Ba; . '. 
XXXTH Te Kooti'i Piogren : The Fight at Papantta : the 
Coknial Tioopa defeated with Low of two killed, 
tra wonnded, and £1200 worth of Honei and 

Camp Equipage i 

XXXV IlL Te Kooti'a Fmgnaa-eonhmud: The Fight atTe 

KonaU— The Eanhans again Yiatoriona . ' 

TCTTTX. Te Eooti's Progreu— eonfiniufl : The Fight at Bna- 
Utnri — Lou of Captain Carr, Hi. Canning, and 
three othert— Captain Tnki and Te Kootl wounded i 
XL. Te Eoott'B Progreta— eonttnued: Threateoa the 
PoTort; Bar Bettlen ; kills the Uriwera Chief Te 

Hnnn i 

TtT.T Te Eooti'a Fnigrea — oanli'mMd .- The UaMaoie 
at Porert; Bay of thirty-three Bettlen, Hen 
Women, ud Childten, and thiity-MTsn friendly 

Nativea I 

Xm. Te Eooti'i ProgTeee— oMUfauad: Attack at Te 
Karatn - Defeat of Te Kooti, and Lo«e of hii prin- 
dpal fighting Chiefs, NaMD, Kebn, Benaie Parata, 
and thirtj-foni Men . . . . . .2 

XLm Te Eooti'i Piogrtm- coiUimttd: Tint Attack on 

Ngatapa by Bapata 2 

XIIT. Te Kooti'i Progrsu—oonfinuwf; Second Attack oo 
Ngatapa— UaMMue of Bettlen ill Aial and 
Pipiwhakan Biuh— DeAth of Captain Brown . 2 
XLV. Te Kooti'i Pragma— oonfihuaif.- Hii Escape from 
Ngatapa: the Chase- The Haohan Chie^ Nikora 
Te Whakannoa. and one hundred and twenty Hen 

killed 2 

XLTL Operstiona egi^nit Titokowara: Fort Lyon— Am- 
bosh at the Peach Orore : Hassaoe of Bergeant 
Hansiea and dz Hen Si 



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CONTENTa 



XLVn. Operattcms kgoinit TitokowMn— MnfteHad : Hnrdei 
of the BeT. Mr. Whitelj, LientoDwit uid Mn. 
Oatooigne, ftQd thi«e Children -Bkirmuh nt 
Ut&nto <m tha FatM Bivei-Attaok on Ta 

Ngahiera 299 

XLVm. OpentioiwagiaiiBtTllokoinim—amltiHMd: CotoDol 

Whttmoie Durches od OeD«ml Chute's Track to 

Taiauakl— HuutiDg up Stngglen— Capture of 

Fakakohi bj HgjoT Nodra .... 264 

XT.TXi Cwnpaign agBinst the ITrlwem Tribe : Beaaoiu for 

theCampAign— Harohof oanTBrgingColiiiiui* . 269 

L. Campaigii againit tbe Uriwera Tribe— smtiiiiMd'- 
Te Kootl attacks Whakatana— Tatdng of Ahike- 
nra— De«th' of LiflDlenant Whlt«— Doingi of 
Colonel St. John's Coluon .... 272 
LL Campaign tgainit the Uriwera Tribe— eonftoMil: 
BnatahuuB— Death of Captain Trafera-Uajor 

Boberta' Colnnm 278 

Ln. Oampaiga against the Uriwera Tribe— eonffniiad: 
Te Eooti— Attack on Hobaha- Murder of Larin, 
hU Wife, and three Chlldreo, Wilkinson, and 

Cooper 282 

Lm. Campaign agunat the Uriwera Tribe — eontimied: 

Te Kooti— Attack on the Hoke Pah— Uesiaere of 

Hen, Women, and Children .286 

LIT. Campaign againat the Uriwera Tribe— oonlinuad: 

Te SooU attacks Hiruhaiama— aaliant Conduct 

of Trooper Hill 291 

LY. Campaign againat the Uriwera Tribe— «7nttnu«d .■ 
Doings of Colonel Herrick's Colnmn— Death of 
Trooper Noonao—WaikaU Moa&a .296 

LTl. The Tanpo Camp^gn : Maswoie of Colonel Bt. 
Jobn'i Esoort at (^pe— Te Kooti'a Tiait to the 
Waikato and Betom to Lake Tanpo . .300 

LYn. The Taapo Campaign— amtimwd .- Colonel HoDon- 

nell asKimea Command— Skirmiah at Te Pononga 804 
LTin. The Tanpo Campaign— conl^nutd.' Arriral of Major 

Eepaand the Wangannia— TheWar-danoe. . 310 
LIX. The Tanpo Campaign— <»)iMnu«d .- the Fight at 

Eaiteriria-Death of Obtain Bi George . . 314 



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CONTENTH. 2 

LX. Tbe Tanpo Caaiptiga—ttmtinutd : SaaMhing fbr Te 
Eooti ~ Skirmiih at Tapapo- Capture of eigfatr 
Hora«g wtA oooilderable Loot 
LXL TheTaopoCampafpi-ixMiUniMil.-TeKooti'HAHack 
on Obinenatii: (ooceecl* io a^n reaohiDg the 
Vriwem Coautr; 
LZII. The Patatflre Campaign : The Doings of Bopata'a 
Colninn— Te Knoti'a Attack ou the Opupe SettJe- 
m«nt~ Fight at Maraitahi- Death of Haksnila . 
LXm. OptMlions at Waikaie Moana 

LXIT. Te Eooti'i Raid on Tologa B»]p . . . ■ : 

LXT. Bopata't aontuined Search after Te Eooti 

LXVL Tbe last Expedition in Pnnnit of Te Eooti : Te 

Kooti anrprised by Captain Portn at Bnahspa — 

Oaptnre of EeieopA, and Escape of Te EooU 

into the Eing Cmintry 



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LIST OP POfiTRAITS. 



I QuvaBON .... 

Sib GsoBai Gut, K.O.B To/noafa^ 4 

HuoB Von Tkmpskt- « « 

TlIOEOWASV „ 30 



En. 0. S. VOLESKB . 

HuobEsta 

TiEoon .... 
Oekeeui. 6ib Tuvob Ckotx 
CoLOHML MoDoHmu.. 

COLOHBL WhITIIOBI . 
UUOB HnHTBB . 



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REMINISCEKCES 



WAK IN NEW ZEALAND. 



PEELIMINAEY CHAPTEE. 

DuBiHO the snmmeT of 1860, while traTelling down the 
ooast to the Wdlin^n Kaoes, acoompaoied by Captain 
Blewett and Dr. Qibson, we were overtaken by a mee- 
aenger who had been despatched to bring up two com- 
panies of the 65tli Begiment then stationed there. The Ta- 
ranaki natives had shown fight by the erecti^m of a strong 
pah on land of which Governor Gore Brown had given 
them notioe that he was going to take poeBession. We 
arrived in Wellington on the day of the embarkation, 
which a great crowd had assembled to witness. The wives 
and children of the soldiers had received orders to take 
leave of the men at the barracks ; bnt one yonng mother 
more anxions than the rest had, despite all orders, taken 
ap her station nnder the wharf, and as the troops com- 
manded by Uajor Turner passed over, she held iip her 
baby, so that its father by going on his knees could kiss it. 
The sensation this rarcumstanoe caused was indesoribable, 
and the first tears <^ doubt and anxiety for the fate of 
those about to eng^^ in the struggle were shed by that 
young wife. In Tain did the clergyman assure her that 
the troops had only to show themselves and all would be 
o^|H-. Those who knew the Maoriea best thought other- 
wise, and the clergyman himself was bat too soon con- 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



2 BEUnnSCBNOES OF THE 

viuced of his mistake, for the retamiug steamer brought 
back the commandiDg officer (Uajor Turner) eerionely 
woonded, a ball having entered his mouth and lodged in 
his neck. Thus b^an a war which speedily assumed snch 
proportions that the Governor considered it necessary to 
send to England for assistance, readily and liberally granted 
by the Britiuh Government Ten British regiments, with 
their commissariat, stsiT and transport corps, were located 
in the Taranaki and Auckland provinces, the outbreak 
having been confined principally to those districts up to the 
summer of 1865, when the disaffected natives, finding the 
imperial troops more thsn a mateh for them in the open 
country of the Waikato, left that district and joined the 
Wanganui natives in their bush fastnesses, determined to 
fight to the bitter end. Their presenile was soon revealed 
by the murder of several of the out-seltlers, for whose 
protection from further violence some of the regiments 
then located in the Waikato districts received orders to 
embark fur the south. 



LANDIKG OF TB00P8 AT WAMGANUI. 

At early dawn on a peculiarly brilliant morning in the 
beginning of the year 1865, the quiet settlement of Wan- 
ganui was startled from its slumbers by the booming of a 
gnn, announcing the arrival of the first of seven regiments 
despatched to crush out the Maori rebellion in that district. 
The township of Wanganui is situated half-way between 
Wellington and Taranaki, and is surrounded by the finest 
agricultural land in New Zealand. It derives its name 
from the noble river which waters it, and is navigable for 
steamers up to Pipiriki, a native settlement sixty miles 
from its mouth. As the troops landed, all was bustle and 

L;,.;,-z.d=,GoOgk' 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 3 

commotion, aod the qniet agricaltnnl village enddenly 
became a centre «f importance. J was soon on tlie wharf, 
and ahall never fnrget the martial bearing of Colonel 
Logan aa be marched np the beac-h in command of the 
57th Regiment — ae fine a body of men as ever had the 
hononr of Kerving their country. Our Major Cooper, then 
aenior ofBcer in oommand, received and quartered them in 
the York Stockade, taking precedence of Captain Blewett, 
in command of two companies of Her Majesty's 6f>th 
Regiment, who had been stationed there for some time. 
Soon after, Major Boukes, one of the most soldierly- 
looking men the oolonial fierce ever had, with considerable 
military experience, gained in both cavalry and infantry 
regiments, and who had seen some service, was ap- 
pointed commanding officer of militia and volunteers. 
I also had the honour to receive Her Majesty's commis- 
sion as lieutenant and quarter- master, after having for 
months served as a full private, doing picket duty on 
alternate nights, subjeot to the orders of my son-in-law, 
who was captain and adjutant, and of my own son, who 
was a lientenant. Such was then the fortune of war in 
New Zealand. 

The first outbreak in Wanganui ocoarred in the year 
1848, when the up-river natives, led by their old chief 
Maketn, murdered the GilGllan family, drove in the out- 
settlers, and actually occupied and held possession for 
some time of a portion of the town, although it was gar- 
risoned by several companies of Her Majesty's 58th B^- 
ment During this siege a settler, named John McGregor 
(now a wealthy settler there), seeing some of his oows on 
the opposite side of the river, crossed with the intention of 
brii^ng them in, and was ascending Shakespeare's Cliff, 
when an ambush of Maories, from a ti-tree scrub, sud- 
denly rose and pursaed him. He turned and fled for his 
lif^ and as he looked round at his pursuers, they fired. 
A hall entered his mouth and passed out of his cheek 
vithout displacing a tooth. Finding himself hard pressed, 
b2 



4 BEUINISCENCEB OF THE 

John MacGregor leaped over the oliff on to the beach 
below — Bome say a height of fifty feet— and bo escaped. 
This settler afterwards headed a depntatioa to Sir George 
Grey (who was always to be found where danger threat- 
ened), asking him to remoTe them to Wellington, and 
abandon the seltlemont. But Sir George Grey, with his 
knowledge of human oature, implied, " Before I assent to 
your request, 1 should like to see how many of you really 
witih it." He then directed all those who were anxious to 
run away from the natives to move to the other aide of 
the room. Not a man stirred. Sir Qeoi^ Grey having by 
this speech roused their courage, and saved the settlement. 
Now, again, the outbreak had oommenoed by the up-river 
natives threateniug a second descent on the township, 
although it was protected by Her Majesty's troops. But 
the town natives, learning their iBteutiotia, took poesession 
of a small island in the middle of the river, determined to 
be the first to oppose their progress. 

I happened to be the Gentry on guard that night at an 
ont-pioket station, near St. John's Bush, and at about two 
o'clock in the morning I heard a hoTBeman gallop furiously 
up the avenue. It was pilch dark, and I let him come 
close up before I challenged him. He a>>emed to have 
forgotten the picket, for on my calliog out, "Who goes 
there ?" he vras so startled (knowing that the Wanganui 
Hilitia sometimes fired before challenging) that ho pulled 
up suddenly and both horse and rider went into the ditoh, 
I turned out the guard and found that the horseman was 
Lieutenant Barton, of the 57th Begiment, on his way to ac- 
quaint his colonel with the result of the river fight. Thia 
was the beginning of the war, and to secure the town from 
a seoond invasion, Uajor Brassey, an old Indian offioer, who 
had fought under General Sale and othera, was soon after 
sent up with 200 of the Taranaki military settlers to 
oooupy Fipiriki, a native settlement on the river-bank, 
sixty miles from the township. I received orders irom 
the defence minister (Uajor Atkinson), being then quarter- 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. S 

master, to keep these eettJen supplied with three months' 
rftdoiia in advance, leet they shoald be oat off before a§siet- 
anoe oottld reach them. This was a difficult and arduous 
duty, as my meana of transport was limited to a few 
friendly canoeo, and two boats' crewa whom I enlist«d 
in the aerrice; to aay nothing ot the relnctance of the 
imperial oommiasuiat to supply me with the requisite 
quantity of stores. 

Every day some fresh incident ocourred to prove the 
hostile character of the natives around us, and an order 
was issued for the out-^etllera to bring in their wives and 
children for protection. This order had not been in force 
many days, when the murder of Mr. Hewitt took plaoe. 
This gentleman, having settled on land in the neighbour- 
hood of the Eai-iwi river, eight miles firom town, had 
removed his family for safery, but continued, with his 
servant, to occupy the house, there being a military 
station within half a mile of his farm. He had ridden 
into town, and, having turned hie horse into my paddock, 
he (on coming for it in the evening) requested my wife 
to go and comfort Mrs. Hewitt, who was in very low 
spirits, and did not wish him to sleep at the farm, having 
a presentiment that something would happen. " But," he 
continued, "as I have left the man there, J cannot desert 
him." He aooordingly rode out, and in the middle of the 
night was awakened by the fuHons barking of bis dogs. 
He incautiously went outside with his man to ascertain 
the oause, and, hearing Uaories talking in the bush around 
his house, \na in the act of returning when he was shot 
down. His man fled from the place, and leaping a bank 
and ditch fence caught his sock on a stake, which held 
him head downwards in the ditch. This saved his life. 
It was very dark, the Maories gave chase, thinking he was 
far ahead, and he escaped to the station: on returning 
with assistance, he found poor Hewitt's lifeless trunk. 
The head was gone, and the heart had been cut out. The 
head was afterwards placed on a pole and oanied by the 



i.vCoogIc 



6 BEMINISCENCES OF THE 

n&tiTaa throngh the conntiy as a trophy, together nitli 
that of Captain Llojd who had been shot at Taranaki a 
eliort time before. These murders m iaoenseil the settlers, 
that old and young came forward to avenge them. In the 
meantime a company of Biuh Bangers, under the command 
of Major Ton Tempeky, Captain tieoi^, and Lientenant 
Weetropp, having made a forced march through the bush, 
arrived, after encountering the natives, and lodng in the 
skirmish one of their officers (Lieutenant Whitfield), whose 
body they brought in for interment. 

The troops remained in town long enoi^h to concen- 
trate their foroe and make arrangements for transport, 
do., when the order was given to march, and 2000 of 
Her Majesty's troops ready equipped for the field left t)ie 
town for the front. They began to move off about four 
o'clock on a beautiful summer's morning, and before seven 
the last regiment was ascending St. John's Bush Hill. 
Hajor Chtkuncey, who was in command of the rear, nearly 
lost his life Jnat before starting. Hia regiment was drawn 
up before the Bntland Hotel, when a wild bullock leaped 
out of the stockyard, and, ruihiag into the town, singled 
out the major, who was on horseback in front of hia men, 
literally lifted horse and rider high in the air, and was 
preparing for a second charge, when the men simultane- 
ously broke ranks, and in an instant fifty bayonets were in 
the animal. This was the first blood, and would it had 
been the only blood spilt on that eventful day. I call it 
eventful, because the incidents which afterwards occurred 
ohanged the whole plan of the oampnigii, and led to the 
diU'erenoea between fSir George Grey and General Cameron, 
who commanded the field force. The country between 
Wanganul and Taranaki (the battle-field) was then only 
known to a few who had travelled between the two settle- 
ments. The only existing map of it was compiled by 
myself and two others, who had often made the ouast 
journey, and revised by the Catholic priest. Father 
Fezent, whose Ireqnent visits gave him a more aocurate 

_ ;i .Cooylc 



i.vCoogIc 



i.vCoogIc 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 7 

knowledge of the Tuious Maori paha, and their distanoe 
&ota eaob other. This map was lithographed, and used 
by General Cameron tbronghoat the war. The morning 
was anuBoally fine, and the troops in Hplendid health and 
spirits. Major Witohell, wlio was in oommand of the 
railitaiy train, acoompanied the force, his men being 
farmed into a caT&lry troop for the occasion. The trans- 
port oorps, whose duties were among the most dangerous 
in the servioe, was principally officered by our young 
colonials. (I frequently meet at the Thames two of them, . 
who, after performing a dangerous and ordnouB duty in a 
manner of which they may be justly proad, have letired 
into private life, one having turned his sword into a 
ploughshare, and the other into mining- shares.) All 
marcQied merrily on, without presentiment of evil ; for 
who oonld forecast danger to atich a fine body of British 
soldiers from a few hundred rebel natives? Adjutant- 
General Johuston, a fine, active soldier, having perfected 
hiB arrangements, galloped away to the front, while 
martial music from the various military bauds was heard 
for o'er bill and dale. The troops took the road up St. 
John's Bush Hill, through Taylor and Watt's beautifol 
tarm at Weistmere on to Alexander's, when they descended 
to the beach, crossed the Eat-iwi, ascended the cliffs at 
Okehn, and ultimately arrived at the Nnkmnara Lake, in 
the middle of the Waitotara block, situate five miles from 
the Wereroa pah, one of the principal strongholds of the 
Maories, and fifteen milee from the town of Wangauni. 
Here a halt was called, and General Ciuneron gave the 
order to pitch the camp, when Major Witohell rode up 
and said, " Don't yon think, general, we are too near the 
bush?" The buHh was within half a mile of the camp, 
high toe-toe intervening. General Cameron replied, " Do 
yoa im^ne. Major Witchell, that any body of natives 
will dare attack 2000 of Her Majesty's tnmpe?" The 
major made answer that it would not surprise him, but 
nevertheless the oamp was pitched. Major Witohell, 



8 BEMINI8CBNCE8 OP THE 

howeTer, having still a preseatimeitt of danger, for he 
knew that Maori wu-fiire was entirely ambush, rode np 
to his men, and ordering them to dismonnt, told them 
not to remove a saddle, hnt to he ready at a moment's 
notice if required. The oamp work proceeded, everyone 
was busy, when a volley was fired from amongst the toe- 
toe, which billed Adjutant-General Johnston and fifteen 
men ; and had it not been for Uajor Witohell's precantions 
— his troop charged through the high grass and drove the 
Haories back — a much greater loss must have ooourred, 
SB one Maori was aotoally shot within twenty yards of the 
general's tent, in the very middle of the camp. Such was 
the result of the first day's campaign, and those who had 
witnessed with the pride of Englishmen the departure of 
the troops in the morning, were destined before night to 
receive the dead and dying. 

General Cameron, so well known and appreciated as a 
man of imdoabted oonrage and experience, ooold not brook 
this incessant mnrder of his men. He looked upon the 
Maories as too insignificant a foe to waste a British 
soldier's life upon ; consequently, after repelling a second 
attack, made on the day following by the natives in force, 
who again surprised the camp, and altbough roughly 
handled snooeeded in killing five men of the 18th picket, 
and several others, he withdrew his men to the beach, 
forming campa at the month of the Waitotara, Whenna- 
knra, and Patea rivers, and nothing could induce him 
again to approach the bush. Sir George Grey wrote to 
the general to inquire why he had passed on up the coast 
without reducing the Wereroa pah, which he had left in 
his rear full of armed men. General Cameron replied that 
it would have oost the lives of too many of Her Majesty's 
troops had he acted otherwise. This feeling was shared 
by many who had not suffered by the revolt, but the 
settlers in the disturbed districts, smarting under the 
deatmction of their farms and homesteads, and the cold- 
blooded murders of their friends and relatives, became a 



WAR K NEW ZEALAND. 9 

JbrmidaUe foe. They had eomething to avenge, and tfaa 
Bosh Kangers, fed by Major Atkinson, Von Tempeky, and 
HcDoDQell, were moia dreaded than any two British la- 
ments. Theae men, nsed to bnsh life, econring the oonntry 
far and near, in a manner which oould nut be imitated 
by disciplined BritiHb troops, fonght the Hacviee in tiieir 
own way, which kept them in snob a constant state of 
alarm, that they dared not even sleep in their pahs. Had 
this mode of gnerilla war&re been generally adopted, the 
war would have terminated more satiafaotorily to all 
concerned. 



CHAPTBE n. 
COLONIAL FOBCES UKDEB IMPERIAL BOLE. 

BATTLE OF WAIREKA, 

Thk first engagement in which the New Zealand militia 
and Tolunteera distinguished tbemselTss took place on the 
28th of March, ]860,dnring the early part of the Tamnaki 
war, with a most creditable result to the small body of 
untried men engaged, few of whom had previously met an 
enemy in the field, and who were for the moat part armed 
with the old Brown Bess mnsket, a weapon inferior in 
every respect to the double-barrelled shot guns of the 
Haories. 

After the attack upon the L pah (so called from its 
shape], the majority of the Taranaki settlers, feeling that 
they were liable to be murdered at any moment by marand- 
ing parties of the enemy, left their homes and oame into 
the town or nearent stockade for protecticm; bnt a few 
families on the southern boundary of the settled district 
who, up to the 28th of March, eleven days after the first 
fight, stiU lived on tboir &rms, tnisting to the protection 
and good faith of the tribe properly oalled Taranaki, who 



10 BEMINISCENCE8 OF THE 

it was anppoBed would not turn ap;uinst ua, as fiisy had 
nothing to do with the Waitara dispute, and had been, 
mnreoTOT, before the arrival of the Europeans, deadly 
enemies of the Ngutiawa or Waitara tribes. That this 
suppoeition was ill founded was eoon pmved, for the 
Haories, who had king watched the growing strength of 
the Fakeha with fear and diHtruet, hailed the prospect of 
war with delight, and, sinking tribal jealoaBles, hastened 
to join from all paits of New Zealand, thus oonverting the 
insignificBnt qaarrel, which had originated with a portJ<m 
only of the Ngatiawa, into a national Maori war. Fore- 
most among these tribes were the Taranaki, Ngatimanai, 
and Ngaranm, the latter a branch of Wanganui. By the 
26th of March at least 600 warriors of these tribes had 
mustered and taken possession of tl)e southern district of 
Taranaki. rausacking the deserted houses and carrying 
off the settlers' property, and on the 2?th they threw 
down the gauntlet unmistakably by murdering three 
men and two boys. When intelligence of these outrages 
reached the town of Taranaki it created a moat painfal 
apprehension, lest the same fate should have overtaken 
the families, which included several ladies, who were still 
on their farms. In order to ascertain their fate it would 
be necessary to fight, for they were surrounded by the 
enemy, whuse flags could be seen flying from newly- 
erected pahe on the firms themselves. At noon on the 
28tb, Lieut.-Colonel Murray, 65th Begi men t, marched from 
town with 300 men, 120 of whom were militia and volun- 
teers. The latter corps, under command of Captains 
Browne and Stapp, were detached with orders to maroh 
by the sandhille, take the enemy in rear, and rescue the 
Bev. Mr. Brown's family and the others, while Colonel 
Murray with the main body was to march by way of the 
Omata village to attack the enemy'it position on the 
Waireka Hill, and so draw their attention from the flank 
movement. MeanwhUe the Maories from their oommand- 
ing position had noted the march of each column, and 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 11 

thoroaghl; understood its significance: the settlers on 
their way up from the heach were allowed to cross, 
without molestation, two deep ravines, which were imme- 
diately occupied by the enemy. ' Their retreat was thus 
out o^ hoth in front and from the ravines on their left 
flank, and on arriving at the crest of the platean our men 
suddenly found themselves engaged by upwards of 400 of 
the enemy's best men. A veteran company might well 
have been dismayed at such a position ; not so the Tara- 
naki settlers; they pushed forward and drove their foes 
back beyond a small farmhooKe, of which they took pos- 
aeesioD, and lying down under cover of a fence opened a 
heavy fire upon the Maories. While these operations were 
in progress, Colonel Murray, who had marked the dan- 
-arona position of ihe settlera, detached a subdiviaion of 
thirty men under Lieutenant Urquhart, 65th Regiment, 
to their assiatance. This officer soon cleared the ravines 
)3j the fire of bis Hinie rifles, and thus a line of retreat 
was opened fur the militia so long as he continued to hold 
his position flanking the ravinea; but the settlers, per- 
fectly satisfied with their woik, had no wish to retire, 
naturally thinking that Colonel Murray would now do his 
part. For some mysterious reason he did not, nor did he 
allow Lienteuaut Urquhart to remain long. After an 
hour's heavy firing the retire bounded, but the combatants 
declined to notice it ; again it gunnded, but still Urquhart 
was deaf ; fioally a sergeant was sent to him with peremp- 
tory orders to retire on the main body. After this 
there could be no hesitation, and the officer reluctantly 
withdrew, taking care not to ni)tice thiit a seigeant and 
ten men were marcliing in the opposite direction to join 
the militia. From these men Captain Stapp learnt for the 
first time that the main body had left him to his fate. 
The ravines had been re-occupied by the Maories, and oar 
ammunition was so nearly ezbansted, that a retreat at 
this moment would have been annihilation. After a brief 
oonsnltation it was decided to retire upon the farmhouae, 

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12 EESUNiaCENOEB OP THE 

fortify the g&rdeu fence against a endden meh, hold the 
place until dark, and then cut a way through the enemy. 
The materid need for the parapet waa straw and turnips, 
not BufScient to stop a hullet, bat it answered as a blind 
and it looked strong. 

Shortly after sunset the enemy's fire ceased, but Captain 
Stapp did nut deem it adviitable to retreat until the moon 
had set, judging rightly that ho would have a better 
chance with bis men in the dark, as the enemy's fire would 
be UDoertaiu. Whea the darkness was deep enough, the 
retreat commenoed; bayonets were fixed, and our men 
marched in a solid body with bated breath, expecting 
e'very moment to reoeire a volley. At the bottom of the 
first ravine some dead Maoriea were seen, but no live ones 
started np to bar the progress of the small body of settlers, 
who effected their escape, carrying with them two killed 
and nine wounded. 

Why the enemy allowed them to retire with impunity 
they learned when they reached town. Some time aftOT 
Colonel Murray and his force had marched. Captain 
Cracroft of H.M.S. Niger landed sixty blue-jackets and 
marines, and followed up, hoping to take part in the 
skirmish ; on his way he met Colonel Murray returning to 
town, and was told that the settlers were still engaged 
with the enemy. Captain Cracroft expreesed in strong 
terms his surprise and indignation at the desertion of 
them, and proceeded to their assistance. On arriving at 
the Omata stockade he was joined by three young settlers 
as guides. It was now neaily dark, and the firing on both 
sides had ceased, there was therefore nothing to guide the 
sailors to the position occupied by the militia, and Captain 
Cracroft concluded that they had retired ; but hearing that 
the Maories had a pah on the Waireka Hill, he determined 
to attack it. They descended cautiously into the deep 
gorge, for itwaa an uncanny place for ambushes, and while 
ascending the opposite hill came suddenly upon a party of 
the enemy. A volley and charge sent them to the ri^t- 

_ I .Google 



WAB IN HEW ZEALAND. 13 

ftbout vith the lo8§ of several of tbeir nnmber, the mr- 
Tivore were followed cloaelj, and the pah taken in a very 
Bailor-like mamiet ; the first men up canght hold of the 
palisades and made a back, while others made one jnmp on 
tu their shoulders and another over the palieadea. In less 
time than it takes to tell, there were onl; dead and dying 
Maories in the peii. 

Caplain Craoroft did not remain long on the ground, 
for he feftred that the Uaoriee would seize the gorge 
through whioh he had passed; and as nothing conld be 
■een or heard of the militia, he returned to town with his 
gallant little band. Meanwhile tbe fugitives irom the pah 
had warned the main body who were Burronnding the 
militia that their stronghold had been taken; a general 
rash in pursuit was the conseqaence, and before they 
returned the militia had retired. Thus Captain Craoroft 
had saved the settlers from heavy loss, if not annihilation, 
by his dashing attack; for the Maories would soon have 
discovered our want of ammunition. The lueses in these 
actiiins were one marine killed, Lientenant Blake and 
four iiailors wounded; one militiaman killed and eight 
wounded. The enemy's Iobb was never accurately known, 
but a European, living under the protection of Bapata 
Ngarongomate, who saw cartload after cartload of killed 
and wounded pass on their way back to their own conntry, 
estimated the killed at forty. Thin is probably near the 
mark ; however, the Ibories only acknowledge seventeen 
killed and twenty-five wounded. If these numbers are 
correct, it is strange that the chiefs should have suffered 
■o severely ; no lew than six were killed, including Te Bei 
Hanataua, the greatest chief in the Taranaki province. 
Although the militia failed to rescue tbe families before 
mentioned, the fight had been a most Biiccessful one for 
them, and their failure did not (as might have been ex- 
pected) endanger the lives of those in the enemy's power ; 
for the Maories of 1860 were not Hauhaus, and though 
like all savages they held peonliar notions as to what 



i.vCoogIc 



14 BEHUnaCENCES OF THE 

constituted a ranrder, atill the; respected non-combatants. 
Immediately after taking pONaeraion of the Waireka, the 
leading chiefs proceciled to the Rev. Mr. Brown's house 
and tapued it, afSxing a notice to the door forbidding 
their tribes to interfere with hid or the other familiee, 
some of whom were foreigners. After the fight in wh|ch 
they lust ao heavily, some of the young men might pro- 
bably have sought revenge, but by this time the chief 
Bapata had them all under his care, and as ha was a man 
of high rank in the Taranaki tribe he was not to be in- 
terfered with lightly. The Taranaki settlerit twik part in 
many other skirmishes, but with the single exception of 
Hahoetahi, none were of snfficient importance to justify 
notice here. 



CHAPTER in. 
COLONIAL FORCES UHDEB IMPERIAL RULE. — eotUiniled. 



Prior to November, 1860, several small successes had been 
gained by the Waitara tribes. This had greatly elated 
them, and a party of Waikatos arriving about this period 
were duly impressed with the fact that Ngatiawa were a 
great fighting tribe. As a natural consequence the former 
were put on their mettle, and by way of proving that 
their ancient courage had not departed, they conceived 
the bold idea of cutting off communication between the 
town and Waitara by taking possession of the Uahoctahi 
Hill, dose to the main road and at no great distance from 
the Bell Block Stockade. This very hazardous move- 
ment was executed by about one hundred and fifty men 
of the Kgatihaoa and other tiibea of Waikato. The 
position chosen was a small hill in the middle of a fern 



, Google 



TAB Df KEW ZEALAND. 15 

flat witli the uenal ranpo^wEuupB, into whicli the men 
oonld retire when bard pressed. Intelligence of this 
movement was forwarded to llajor-Gtiaeral Fratt, who 
iesued orders fnr a combined attack, in wbicb Major Nelson 
and the 40th Kegimeitt would act from the Waitara aide 
to cut off the fugitives, while tlie 6dth Begiment and 
militia stormed the position. On the 6th of November the 
forces marched for Mahoetahi ; and after a sharp but in- 
efEectaal fire from the artillery, which failed to dislodge 
the enemy from their pita, a company of the 65th and the 
Taranaki Volunteers were told off to storm, which they did 
in good style. The Maories stood their ground well, 
tolling four and wonnding sixteen of their asaaitants, but 
without effect, for they were driven pell-mell at the point 
of the bayonet oot of the rifle-pits and into the swamp, 
where they lay concealed until the volunteers headed it 
to windward and set fire to the dry rttupo. This drove 
them out to run the gauntlet; a few were taken pri- 
Honers, but the majority were killed or wuunded: the 
Maories admitted a loss of thirty-four killed and fifty 
wounded. As their estimate of killed tallied with the 
bodies found by us, it may be concluded that the list of 
wounded was also correct. Several leading chiefs were 
killed, including Taiporutu of Ngatihaua. Ilie loss of the 
volunteers in this sharp skinuiah was two killed and four 
wounded. 

Daring the Waikato war the settlers again o&me to the 
front. Two companies of Forest Bangers under Captains 
Jackson and Von Tempaky were enrolled for the purpose 
of scouring the foi'eet lying between the Waikato and the 
settled diatriots of Auckland, with a view to securing 
life and property. Tliroe troops of cavalry known as 
the Defence Force were attached to General Cameron's 
flying column, and did good servioe on many occasions ; 
and various companies of militia were employed to hold 
posts in rear of the active army. In October, 1863, the 



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16 BEMINI8CENCE8 OF THE 

Manlni Btookade was garrisoned b; a company of militia 
under the command of Lient. Lnsk. On the 23rd ia- 
telligenoe was received that a strong party of the enemy 
were shooting cattle on a farm at no great distance; 
Lieutenant Lnsk at once led a detachment of three 
officers and sixty men in pursuit, and came np with the 
marauders. Lieutenant FeTcival, who led the advanced 
guard, was driven back on the main body, and the firing 
on both sides became very heavy, but our men advanced 
and drove the enemy back into some open ground. Here, 
Maori-like, they wheeled round the left flank of the 
militia, and taking cover behind some fallen timber, opened 
such a heavy fire that Lieutenant Lusk was obliged tg 
withdraw his men. No sooner was this movement ob- 
served by the enemy, than they charged out, and for some 
minutes there was ratber close firing, in which both 
parties suffered, despite the excellent cover afforded by the 
logs and stumps. The superior numbers of the Maories 
now enabled them to outflank the militia on both sides, 
and our men were forced book into the forest, where they 
reformed, expecting a close pursuit; but both sides had 
suffered enough for the time, and the Maoriee contented 
themselves jwitb firing a few ill-directed volleys. The 
loss of the miliiia was heavy : Lieutenants Norman and 
Feroival and six men were killed, and four men were 
wounded; the enrany acknowledged sixteen casualties. 

For some months the Forest Kangers had been scouring 
the bnsh, and had skinniahed with the Maories on several 
occasions. On the 11th of December, 1863, Captain Jack- 
son and twenty-seven men started on an expedition to the 
Wairoa river, and on the following day came across fresh 
native-tracks. They were followed, and several deserted 
camps seen with the fires still burning; but towards 
evening the trail was lost. The neitt morning some of 
the most active men climbed trees and reported smoke 
rifling from the ranges; great cantion was used in ap- 



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WAB IK NEW ZEALAND. 17 

prooohing the natiTe camp leat their sentrieB shonld givt: 
the alarm. When within twenty yarAa Captain Jackson 
ordered Ma men to firs a Tollej and then ohorge in with 
their revolve™ without waiting to reload. The Maorie«, 
who were quietly cleaning their guna, were completely 
taken by enrprise, neverth^ess, with their osnal hardihood 
they tamed on Oie tsngere with empty carhinet, expecting 
to find them an easy prey ; bnt Hie revolvers soon cleared 
them off, leaving four dead behind them, three others were 
carried o£F after the first volley. One Uaori returned to 
the camp, when in poaeession of onr men, and attempted 
to secure a small tin box, bnt a bullet made him drop it, 
though he succeeded in effecting hU escape, 'llie rangers 
thought they had a prize in the box, but were disgusted to 
find that it only contained the king's flags. This party 
numbered about fif^ men, and from the loot found in their 
camp, had evidently been concerned in some murders that 
had been committed only a short time previously. 

Both companies of the rangers were afterwards engaged 
in the bathing party attack at the Waiari stream ; tliirty- 
five men under Von Tempsky were sent to clear the 
enemy out of a patch of ^rub on the river-bank, which 
they did in a very few minutes, killing five and wounding 
two, whom they took prisonera. Captain Heaphy, an 
officer in the militia, distinguished himself greatly during 
this fight While assisting a wounded soldier who had 
Mien in the midst of the enemy, a volley was fired at him, 
five bullets pieroed his clothes, and he received three 
wounds, nevertheless he uontinued to sid the wounded 
throughout the day. He has been given the Victoria 
Cross for his gallant oonduot. The rangers and militia 
were also present at the storming of Orakau, when Major 
Harford of the latter oorpa wae especially mentioned for 
his behaviour in holding tiie head of the sap throughout the 
siege, and finally leading an assault upon the pah, in which 
he was desperately wounded. Five men of the colonial 
corps were killed and eight wonnded in this engagement. 



.Coogic 



IB BEHDnSCENCES OF THE 

The Defence Force nader Coloae] Xixon.Ute 3fithFoot, 
had not the same ohaaoe of distingniBbing tbemaelTea, as 
the nature of the countiy prevented aucoesaful moTements 
with cavaliy, but at Bangiaohia, while acting as advanced 
guard to the force, they surprised the natives in their 
whares. Colonel Nixon called upon them to surrender, 
but was answered by a volley which mortally wounded 
him; some of the troopers, enraged at their leader's &1I, 
attempted to storm the whare, but were all killed or 
wounded ; finally tbe hut was burnt with its defenders, 
only one of whom could be persuaded to surrender. On 
the following day, at Haerini, fifteen troopers under 
Captain McDonnell charged the enemy, killing and vround- 
ing several men, while the main body, who had taken 
the wrong path and were hampered by the swamps whioh 
intersect the country, oould only look on without the 
power to assist their comrades. Up to the month of 
April, 1864, the impeiial troops had been assisted in their 
oampaigns by the European settlers only, but a new and 
important element was about to appear upon the scene in 
the shape of friendly Uaorles. It must not be supposed 
from this title that the tribes in question really loved the 
Fakeha : far from it. As a rule, they disliked ua quite as 
much as the King Maories did, bat there were many 
reasons why certain tribes should turn their arms against 
their fellow countrymen. Foremost among these was the 
tribal jealousy and hatred engendered generations since, 
and unabated by lapse of years. Many Europeans in 
the plenitude of their wisdom have condemned the Maori 
for want of patriotism, because, while fighting for the 
Fakeha, they shot aud tomahawked their Maori neigh- 
bours. These people know little of tbe native ohamcter 
or history, or they would be aware that each tribe beont 
deadly enmity to many other tribes, with whom, but for 
the advent of the Fakeha, they would have been eng^ed 
in mortal strife; therefore it is only natural that they 
should seek every opp<nrtanity of wiping out old soores. 



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WAB IN NEW ZEAI,AND. 19 

Another Teiy Btrong motive in joining ns is the intense 
desire all Haories have to possess guns and ammnnition, 
and the still greater desire to shoot someone with them, 
in order to show, with all their civilisation, they can still 
fight. It was perhaps a mixture of these feelings which 
indnoed the Arawa tribe to throw in their lot with the 
Goremment against the King party, aa represented by 
their ancient enemies the Ngaiterangi of Tanranga, who 
were at this period confronting General Cameron and 
his 2000 men at the gate Pah. Intelligence of the 
general's arrival had been sent to the Ngatiawa, Wha- 
katobea, and Ngatiporon tribes, and they, nothing loth, 
responded to the call by mastering 600 strong and ad- 
vancing towards Tanranga ; bnt at Maketn they were met 
by the Arawa, who, supported by a strong detachment 
of the 43rd Regiment and 3rd WaikatoHllitia, under Major 
Colville, refused to allow them to pass. The Kingites 
retaliated by laying an ambush on the bank of the Waihi 
liver, and on the 21st of April very nearly caught Major 
Colville and Hr. Way. Theae officers had to jump out of 
their canoe and run for their lives ; they were followed 
almost to the redoubt. A skirmish ensued, and the 
enemy were driven baok across the Waihi with some loss, 
after wounding four men of the 43rd. Skirmishes were of 
daily occurrence until the 2Tth, when H.M.8. FaUxm and 
the colonial steamer Sandfly arrived o£F Waihi, shelled 
the enemy out of their sand rifle-pits, and forced them 
to beat a hasty retreat. The ford was now open, and 
Major Hay, who commanded the Arawa, took advantage 
of that dronmstance to send 100 men across, with orders 
to follow the enemy as &r aa Otamarakau ; later in 
the day he followed with fourteen men of the Forest 
Sangers and 200 Arawa, and camped for the night at 
Waiheke. At daybreak the following morning another 
100 men joined him. They were now strong enough 
to meet the enemy in the field, and Hajors Hay and 
McDonnell had no difficulty in persuading their men to 
2 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



20 BEMIKIBCGHCEB OF THE 

maroh fbrmtrd. When within two miles of Te MatatA the 
enemy were fontid awaiting attack; thcdr position wua 
well choaen — a deep atream in tiieir front, their left flank 
resting on the steep oUff of an old raised boaoh, and their 
right touching the eea, with the small hillocky sandhills 
forming splendid cover for their skirmishers. The old 
warrior chief Toi Te XTrur&ngi commenced the fight with 
' his usual impetuosity, and heavy firing was the order of 
the day ; this, however, did not last, for Major Hay with 
his handful of Forest Bangers, well supported by the Arawa, 
carried the creek with a rush. The enemy, about four 
hundred strong, did not wait for oonolnsions, but bolted 
pell-mell, pursnod byonr men for about two miles, until they 
oame to Te Awa o te Atua river. Those who were lucky 
enough to get canoes paddled over and were safe, but those 
who did not, had to swim under fire ; many of them were 
shot and carried out to sea. Thirty-seven bodies were found 
that day, and fifteen more on the 29th ; others were found 
in the swamps at v&rions times. Altogether the enemy lost 
about seventy men, wounded unknown; onr casualties 
were very light; the brave old Toi was killed and six men 
wonnded. A rather celebrated chief of the Whakatohea 
was taken prisoner; at first he was frightened lest he 
should be killed, but Captain McDonnell reassured him 
by taking him under his protection, and tellii^ him that 
he had nothing to fear, and perhaps he had not from the 
men. But McDonnell had not taken into consideration 
the feminine element in the shape of Toi's wife, who, 
enraged at her husband's death, persuaded a man to load a 
rifle for her ; this done, she walked up to the chief and 
blew his brains out. Her tribe were much exercised in 
iheir minds over this deed, but finally came to the oon- 
cluflion that it was creditable on the part of the woman. 

The last engagement in which the colonial foroea took 
part under General Cameron's command was in March, 
1865. That ofBcer, after oooupying the coast line between 
Wanganni and T«ranaki, ap^died to his Excellency Sir 



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WAB IK NEW ZEALAND. 21 

George Grey for a. body of Forest RangerB to not as acontn. 
with th« view to keeping the ]and commanication open 
by adopting tbe enemy's tactics, viz., ambuscades and 
patrolling. The OoTemment of that date lost, no time in 
complying with the graieral's request, and two companies, 
each fifty strong, under Uajor Von Tempeky and Captain 
F. GeoT^, were selected from the Forest fiangers and 
militia in the Waikato. lliese corps were forwarded to 
Patea and stationed at Kakaramea, near tbe edge of the 
forest, from whence they did gciod servioe by scouting tbe 
country, preventing lose in life and property. On the 9th of 
Hay, while patrolling tbe banks of the Patea river, a well- 
beaten track was found which led up the face of a steep cliff 
by means of supplejack laddets and otber Maori appliances. 
Vott Tempeky ooncluded that this path would lead to 
some large village; he therefore retraced his steps, lost 
the enemy should notice his tracks and forestall his inten- 
tions. 'ITiat same evening three Maori scouts were ob- 
served watching the camp, as though they expected an 
attack. Under theee circumtitanoes the expedition was 
postponed for two or three days, to allow the enemy 
to become careless. At midnight, on the 12th, Yon 
Tempsky marched with seventy men. At the foot of 
the cliff before mentioned an ofBcer and twenty men were 
left, to hold this dangerous plaoe open in case of a retreat; 
the remainder proceeded on their march over some very 
difficult country, and finally loft the track by following 
side tracks into plantations. The proper route was not 
found until nearly dawn. A few hundred yards brought 
our men into a large deserted vilbge, which had recently 
been occupied, for the fires were ali^t. 'While soouting 
about here, we saw smoke rising irom a ridge on the 
opposite side of a very deep gorge. It was now broad day- 
light, and there was little chance of surprising the enemy, 
but Von Temphky was unwilling to return without doing 
something. We therefore crossed the gorge, and on 
reaching the summit of the ridge found a lai|^ clearing, 

L, ,z,;i.,C00gIC 



22 REMINISCENCES OP THE 

named Otoia, with a nTimber of temporaiy 'wharea on the 
opposite end. Maoriea coald also be seen moving abont, 
unaware that they were in anch oloee proximity to the 
Pakeha. Von Tempsby extended his men along the edge 
of the buab, behind a barricade of dead timber which bad 
been thrown out of the clearing. While climbing over 
this obslruction they were seen by the Maories, who 
h&etily seized their arms and fired a Tolley, mortally 
wounding Ensign Whitfield and one of the rangers, and 
slightly wonnding Captain George; the enemy then fell 
back upon some fallen timber, under cover of which they 
held onr men in check. Shortly after the firing commenced 
the enemy began to call to their friends in the neighbouring 
viDsgoB, and they coald be heard answering. This circum- 
stance decided Von Tempsky to dislodge the enemy from 
their oover at once, or if that was fonnd impossible, to 
retreat before reinforcements arrived. Lieutenant West- 
rup was ordered to take the enemy in the flank, bnt foiled 
to do BO, OS the Maori right rested on a steep cliff, which 
had not previously been noticed by onr men. The 
difficulty of oarrying killed or wonnded men in snch a 
conntry is enormous, particularly if pressed hy an enemy. 
Von Tempsky therefore determined to retreat before he 
vae hampered by further casualties. The major, with his 
best shots, held the ground, while the main body carried 
off the wounded. Some time was lost by searching for a 
better track than ^hat by which they had come, bnt each , 
attempt ended by the men finding the cliff in their way, 
and at last they had to return by the old path, of which 
the enemy had not taken po^ession. A smart skirmish 
took place between fbem and the advanced guard, in 
which they were routed, leaving three dead on the 
ground ; the loss of the enemy was supposed to have 
been seven killed, and the usual proportion of wounded, 
but only the three bodies above mentioned were actually 
seen. Onr loss was numeiically the same, being one 
officer and two men killed, one offioer wounded. 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 



CHAPTER IV. 



When the idea was first oonceiTed of colonising Xew 
Zealand, several religious communitieB were naturally 
anxious to spread the Goepel amungBt the various triboM, 
and the Church of England and Wesleyan Societies united 
for the &iut time to try and aocomplish the great and 
glorious work of converting a hesthen nation to Christi- 
anity. An agreement was entered into that the Chnroh of 
England Missionary Society should occnpy and evaDgelise 
the upper hulf of the North Island, and the M'esteyan the 
lower, and this agreement was strictly adhered to for some 
years, in fact, until a Bishop of New Zealand was appointed, 
who carried the doctrines of his own Church throughout 
the whole island, invaded the Wesleyan territories, preached 
their condemnation, telling the Maories that they (the 
Wesleyans) had no authority even to baptise, but were 
the ravenous wolves spoken of in Scripture. The Wes- 
leyan Slaories, believing they had been shamefully im- 
posed upon, became indignant, and for some time it 
seemed probable the ciroumstance would lead to hos- 
tilities; as we find by the letters of the Rev. Hanson 
Torton, Wesleyan minister, to Bishop Selwyn, published 
in Brown's ' New Zealand.' In or.e of these Mr. Turton 
asks Ihe bishop who gave him the authority he denied to 
others? a question which the bishop very wisely abstained 
bom answering. This was the first check the Maories ex- 
perienced in their lessons ou Christianity, and the con- 
fusion was soon worse confounded by the arrival of other 
misnonaries of various denominations, who all professed to 
teach the doctrine of Christ from the same Scriptures, yet 



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24 KEMINIBCENCEa OF THE 

each managed to read therein the oimifemnation of the 
other. Each sought the convei'siiiii of the Maori, and was 
anxious to return iavonrahle accounts to tho home sooie- 
ties, who supported the great work of mystification by 
their fiinds. But the Maori, being possessed of good 
reasoning faculties, many having read the Bible translated 
into their own language, tried his utmost to fathom the 
difficulty, and in his search joined one society after the 
other, until he had gone through the whole ; when having 
come to the conclusioa that the difference solely arose from 
the various interpretations each one chose to give the 
ScriptareK, he claimed a like privilege, and having pon- 
dered over and searched until he had wrested those 
Scriptures to his own destruction, finally settled into 
Hauhanism. The Maori king movement, which waa 
originally instituted with the objeot of nationalising the 
numfrons tribes of the Korth Island, so as to give unity 
of action in their wars and political struggles with the 
Eui'opeans, met at first with remarkable success, Ngapnhi 
alone, proud of their ancient supremacy, refusing to ac- 
knowledge a Waikato king. But this feeling of patriotism 
did Dot laKt long; tribe after trihe, remembering old 
grievunces, fell away, some professing neutrality, while 
others joined the Pakeha. Under these circumstances, it 
wan evident that to unite the various tribes a new and 
powerful stimulant was necessary, and this was now 
supplied in the shape of religious frenzy by an abenrd 
and fanatical creed of murderous tendencies, denominated 
the Hauhau, or Fai Marire religion. The origin of this 
fanatical creed is obscure, as well it might be, for the 
author (Te Ua) had, np to the date of his inspiration, been 
considered a harmless lunatic. Its first appearance was 
in some mj'sterious manner connected with the wreck of 
the t'teamer Lard Wortleji on the Taranaki coast. At that 
period Te TJa, though looked upon by his tribe as of weak 
intellect, was yet of peaceful disposition, more friendly 



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VAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 25 

to the EnropeoiiB than to the king party, and with tliese 
dispositions, he tried hard to persuade Mb tribe not to 
plnnder either the cargo or paasengers, bnt b« failed, 
the sight of so much loot being too much for a true 
Maori to wilhstand; and the failure seems to have 
preyed so muob on his already weak mind, that his 
only oonsoUtion from that moment was in praying to 
his Atna Pai Marire. Shortly after theee events, Te 
Ua assaulted a woman of bis tribe, and her husband, by 
way of punishment, tied him hand and foot, and left him 
in a whitre, to meditate for a time on his evil ways ; and 
it was while undergoing this punishment that his first 
intimate aoquaintanoe with the Atua Pai Marire stood hiTn 
in good stead, and rendered him ever after famous and 
powerful amongst the tribes, for, to quote his own words, 
"the archangel Michael, the angel Gabriel, and hosts of 
minor spirits landed from the Lord Woraley, and visited 
him as he lay bound." Gabriel, who took the lead through- 
out the conference, ordered him to break his bonds, which 
he did easily, and the husband, finding him at liberty, 
again bound him, this titoe with a chain, but, in obedience 
to the angel's commands, Te Ua with more than human 
strength buist it in pieces, and from thenoefurth was 
oonsidered a famous man, protected by God, and feared 
1^ the superstitiouB Maori. The angels' visits were 
neither few nor far between, fur Gabriel visited him again, 
on this oooasion during sleep, and ordered him to rise ; he 
did BO, and found himself surrounded by all the tribes of 
the earth. While gazing on the assembled multitudes, he 
heard a loud voice saying, " Te Ha, go out and kill your 
son ;" he obeyed, and seizing the boy, broke his leg in 
several places, but before he oould despatch him, the angel 
Gabriel ordered him to stop, and wash the boy in water. 
Te Ua oomplied, and in an instant biB son was restored 
to him, unhurt He was then inetmoted as to his future 
proceedings. A pole of a certain height, to be called a 



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28 BEMINI8CENOE8 OF THE 

This act of barbanty was new in Hrfaori warfare, and 
not underetood at the time. Several men were miaaing, 
and as it was quite possible that they might be hiding 
in the thick fern, the nflioer commanding the Bush 
Bangers had the 67th regimental call sounded ; the 
missing onoa responded, and were brought out, all more 
or less severely wounded. They stated that the enemy 
rushed upon them barking like dogs, and seemed to 
have no fear of death. Little was then known of the 
new religion, but the settlers soon found that this un- 
nsnal daring was the result of a fanatical belief in their 
invnlnerability. The word Hauhau was oertainly a most 
useful one, if it bad only half the virtue attributed to it 
by the prophets. 

Suppose, for inetanoe, that an enemy was in the aot of 
firing at you, yon simply had to turn the palm of your 
hand towards him, raising it quickly over your head, at 
the same time saying " Hau, Hau," and tiie butlet would 
fiy over your head. 1 cannot say that I have ever tried 
it or seen it tried; but many veracious cannibals have 
aranred me that it is a fact. The word " hau " is pro* 
nounced very abruptly, so as t« sound almost like the 
bark of a dog. 

The fight at Ahn Ahu had a great effeot upon the 
fanatics ; they had beaten the Pakeha, and were confirmed 
in the belief that they were the chosen people, but more 
important still were the revelations received after the 
action. Tbeheadsof the slain had been cutoff as trophies, 
lewt other unbelieving tribes should doubt their success ; 
after being duly exhibited they were buried, but the 
angel Gabriel appeared to Te Ua and ordered hira to 
exhume and preserve Captain Lloyd's bead in the Maori 
&t>hion, after vhiob it was to be carried through all the 
tribes in Kew Zealand as a medium of commnnicatiou 
between man and God. The orderwas obeyed, and the head, 
probably out of gratitude, spoke to To Ua, saying, " Yon 
are the chief prophet of FaiUarire; Matene and Hepanaia 



VAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 29 

will be your disciples." The head also informed the high 
prieat that all tme belierere should be called Pai Marire, 
and that legions of aageU awaited the time wben, tb« 
head having viititod all the tribes, a general ontbreak 
wunld take place and the Pakeha be annihilated by the 
assistance of these angels, after which a knowledge of all 
langoages and of all the arts and scienoes would be 
bestowed npon the Pai Marire. This aooonnt must 
i^pear utterly absurd to the Bnropean mind, yet it 
was to the Matm a belief in defenoe of which he wss 
prepared to die ; the supposed inxtmctiona were admirably 
oonoeived, and reflect great credit upon 'i'e Ua. Had 
the head with its attendant train of madmen travelled 
peaceably through the North Ixlund, oarefnily abstaining 
ftom houtility towards those tribes professing friendship 
to the Europeans, all would eventually have been ounverted, 
and in that case the outbreJik, when it came, would have 
been so formidable that the utmost efforts of the Govern- 
ment would hardly have arrested its course. Luckily for 
ns, the sub-prophets Hepanaia and Hatene, Kereopa and 
Patara, were men of ferocious oharaoler, too impatient to 
await the appointed time, and so the death-knell of Pai 
Uarire was sounded. 

llie firitt among the prophets to achieve notoriety was 
Hepanaia. The Pai Harire had been preached throughout 
the Taranaki and Ngatiroanui country, and there were 
hundreds of zealous oonverts ready and anxious to strike 
for their land and religion ; they only required a leader, 
aud one was at hand in the person of Hepanaia. This 
prophet was not a prudent man by any means, bat his 
courage was undeniable, there was therefore the less 
reason why he should have selected the fort at Sentiy Hill 
as the point of attack ; thero were many other poets in the 
district oomparatively easy to assault, the prophet how- 
ever disdained small mercies and selected the hill. This 
position was garrisoned by a detachment fifty strong 
of the 57th Begiment, under Major Short, and was for- 

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30 BEUNIBCENCEB OF THE 

tified with revetted parapet, and in plaoe of a ditch the 
steep hilltdde^ were scarped to the foot of the panpet, 
making a Bleep faco to esciUade more than twentrf feet high; 
thus the garrinon were secure from anj asaault tmprovided 
with scaling-ladders. The enemy's plans were that 200 of 
the Ngatiawa trihe shoold make a false attack just before 
dawn, with the object of drawing the atteolion of the 
garrison from the real movement, which would be carried 
on during the uproar. This party, 300 strong, were under 
Hepanaia and Farengi Kingi of Taranaki, and Tamati 
Oraukawa and Titokowaru of Ngatiruanui. Uu the 1st 
of lOay, 1864, the attack took place ; shortly afterdaylight 
the garrison were roused by the yells and stamping of the 
war-dance. Major Shortt paraded his men, and ordered 
them to lie down ttnder the parapet with the view of 
deceiving the enemy. A few minutes after the last sound of 
the dance had died away, the taua (war party) were seen 
adranoing to the attack in close column of fours, evidently 
oarelesB of our £re, or they would have retaiued the looae, 
open, and offective style of attack generally used by the 
Maori, and of late years by European armies; they had 
waited in vain for the false attack, for Kgatiawa, diBliking 
the general appearance of the redoubt, had gone home. 
Hepanaia therefore resolved to attack without them, and 
gave the word ; when about 300 yards from the soarp the 
Hauhauit halted, as if suspiciouR of the silent and apparently 
unoocupied fort. Their hesitation was only for a moment, 
the next instant they were swarming up the steep hill- 
side, only to be swept back by a storm of bullets and 
shells from the cohom mortars. A Maori who was present 
described it thus : " As we charged, tiie soldiers opened fire ; 
it was a hailstorm, and the four front ranks went down to 
a man. For a few seconds we halted in doubt, but old 
Tamati led ns on to take revenge for hia two sons just 
killed ; we made another rush and met the same fate. This 
was too much ; we all ran away, dragging off what killed 
and wounded we could. The prophet whb killed; be was a 

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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 31 

hambug." The retreat was only just made in time, for 
aliortly after Colonel Bntler, 57th Begiment, arrived on 
the field with reinforoements from HaDutahi, too late to 
awist hiB comrades, but in time to collect the killed and 
wounded ; thirty-three dead bodies were bnried, and one 
severely wooaded priaonor taken into hospital. The bodies 
found did not by any means convey a correct idea of 
the Hauhan loss ; several men were carried off by their 
relati'ves during the retreat, and for months bodies were 
fbnnd in the fern and scrub where they had been left. 
Among the leaders, Farengi Kingi, Hepanaia, and Manahi 
were killed, and Titokovraru lost an eye ; the total loss of 
the enemy was estimated at seventy, but the Uaories 
never admitted having more than fifty-two killed, and 
they are probably correct. 



CHAPTEE VI. 

PBOOBESS OF THE HADHAU RELIGION — COnttlfUed. 

MR. BOOTH'S ADVEHT0KE. 

Shortlt before the events just related, the second prophet, 
Hatene Bangitanira, had been sent to propagate the Psi 
Marire among the Wanganni, of which tnbe he was a 
member. The party took the inland track up the Waitotaia, 
and reached Fipiriki, where the people were bitterly hostile 
to Europeans, in oonseqaenoe of thedeath of their chief Hon 
Te Eaioroto, who with thirty-aix of his men was killed at 
the storming of Eatik&ra. This tribe readily accepted the 
Pai Marire. Captain Lloyd's bead was hung on the Niu, 
while men and women half mad with fanaticism dauoed 
wildly round it. Mr. Booth, the resident magistrate, was 
absent in Wanganni when these men arrived, but hie bro- 
ther and family werestPipiriki. His return bad been pre- 
vented by want of water on the upper rapids of the river; 

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32 BEUINISCBNCES OF THE 

had he Iwen at his atation, it is probable that he might 
have prev^ted the Hauhaus preaching their Fai Harire, 
for he waa greatly respected by the Maories. 'llie etate 
of the river prevented Ur. Booth's return before the end 
of April ; at each pah on the river he was told that the 
new religion hud been eatablished at Fipiriki, and at 
Hiniharama he waa aoleninly warned not to gu on. em the 
Haubaus were all pourewarewa (half mad), ewearing ven- 
geance to the Fakeha. This of course only proved a 
stronger reason for going on, as be felt it waa bin duty to 
reeoae his brother and family. On reaching the landings 
place be obuerved a change in the behaviour of his people ; 
usually tbey would come to meet, and welcome him, and 
drag up the canoe high and dry before he was allowed to 
land, but on this occasion they lined the high bank above 
the river, making horrible grimaces and yelling like 
demons. Now thoroughly alive to his danger, Mr. Booth 
sat quietly in the canoe until the yonng chief Hori Fatene 
came down and cried over him, rubbing nosoe to assure 
him of his Mendship. Hon advised Mr. Booth to go at 
once to his house, but he refused, saying he saw murder in 
the eyes of Matene and his followers. Hori promised to 
protect him, and they went together. On the top of the 
bank Mr. Booth saw a young balf-«aste boy who was under 
his protection ; he tried to take faim with him, bat the 
Hanhaus seized the boy, and in the struggle he waa hurt 
and cried out ; this bo exasperated them, that Booth would 
have been killed at onoe bad not Hori interfered and 
persuaded him to let the boy go. They found Mrs. Booth 
and the children in great alarm, expecting death every 
moment. Hori's good deeds did not oease here, for he 
crossed the river and brought Mr. Booth's brother and 
family, so that they might all meet their &to together. 

It waa now dark, and the Hanhaus began their devotions, 
howling round the pole on which was hung Captain 
Lloyd's head, the women in a frenzy of fanaticism 
gnawing the hair and flesh. These scenes were repeated 

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WAS m NEW ZEALAND. 33 

again and &ga,m dtning tlie nigbt, and when not engaged 
in these horrible devotions the Taranaki men made 
speeches which Mr. Booth could hear, urging the murder 
of himself and family. Hori Fatene and one other man 
opposed them, and proposed that the Pakehas should 
he allowed to depart On the following day the same 
BceDes were repeated ; in the afternoon, Epiha Fatapu, a 
near relation of the great Pehi Turoa, arrived and visited 
Hr. Booth. He was requested to return and bring Pehi 
to intercede with the Hauhaus; Epiha promised to do so, 
bnt late in the evcming he sent word that Pehi bad gone 
down the riTer to Hiruharama, and had m>t called at 
Fipiriki, There seemed to be no hope of release now, 
and Mr. Booth and his &mily redgaud themBelves to their 
&te, expecting to be massaored during the night. 

On the following raoniing Mr. Booth sent for Matone, 
&nd at 11 A.H. the prophet walked into the boiiBe and 
shook hands all round, saying "Enoho i ta koutou 
wbare " — a Maori salutation. " Have you nothing more 
to say to me?" said Mr. Booth. "No, nothing," said 
the prophet and left them. Hori Intone came in soon 
after, and told them to be ready, as he intended to aid 
dieir escape that night. He then left them to learn what 
the meeting were saying, lest they dioold decide upon 
death in his absence. After the meeting was over, a 
messenger came from Matene, and said " This Is our deci- 
sioD : We will not let yon go ; yon shall stay with us for 
ever. If you attempt to escape we will kill you." About 
sunset Hori Fatene oame post-haste, and said " At last they 
have consented to let you go. Come at once ; leave all your 
property to me ; for they may change their minds at any 
moment" As may be supposed, they were only too glad 
to leave everything, and the whole family followed their 
firieind and protector. The river-bank was crowded with 
the Hauhaus, and as they passed Mr. Booth heard the 
Taianaki men say *' Wait until they get into the canoe, 
and then shoot them down." Hori heard it also, and said 



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34 BEMINISCENCE8 OF THB 

" Take no notice of tLem. Go alowly until 70a are out of 
eight ; 1 and my friendfi will keep in the line of fire between 
you and the Hauhaua." Once fairly off and past the rapids 
they increased their speed. For some time they were noder 
the impression that they weru followed, and used every 
exertion to escape ; but finally the voicee heard were fonnd 
to be those of the ohildren in the bow of the canoe ; they 
were talking together in a low tone, and the mshing of 
the water kept the paddlers from ascertaining where the 
sounds came from. That n^ht thoy reached Hiniharama, 
where they fonnd Pebi Turoa, who had been a&aid to 
trust himself with the Hauhaus, and so had passed on and 
left them to their fate. On the following day the whole 
party reached Wanganui, having only a few hours before 
despaired of ever seeing home again. 



CHAPTER Til. 

PBOQBESS OF THE HACHAU BELIQION — continued. 

BATTLE OP MOUTOA AND OHOTAHI. 

Ajtee Mr. Booth's lucky escape, the Hauhaus decided on 
attacking the town of Wanganui, and employed themselves 
in fitting out war-canoes for that purpose. They also as 
a preliminary movement sent messengers to the Ifgatiliau 
tribe at Himharama, asking them to join the Hauhan and 
help to drive tbe intruding Fakeha into the sea. Ifgatlhau 
thought it good policy not to answer, but at once despatched 
a swift canoe to warn lower Wanganui and Ngatiapa to 
oome to their assistance well armed. They then held a 
meeting, and decided to leave the three pahs of Hiruharama, 
Eauaeroa, and Tawhitinui; fall back upon Banana, and 
fight the enemy on an old and classic battle-ground, the 
island of Moutoa. These movements were executed at 
once. Meanwhile the Haubaua, uncertain as to the feelings 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 35 

of Ngatihan, advanced cautioosly, and finding Hirubarama 
deserted, passed oa and ocxmpied Tawhitinui about two 
miles distant, and on the opposite side of the river to 
Banana, from whence they intended to open negotiations 
with the tribes of the lower district. By this time the 
fighting men of Koriniti, Atene, and Forikino had arrived 
at Banana, and were present when a meflsage arrived &om 
the Hanbaiu demanding permiasion to pass down the 
river, and hinting that they would resort to force should 
their request be reliiaed. Haimona, chief of Ngatipa- 
Uoana, a man of stent character, replied " We will not let 
you pass ; and if yon attempt to force a passage we will 
fight you on Moutoa." The Hauhans accepted the challenge. 
It was agreed tbat our people, as owners of the island, 
should occupy it before dawn, and await the arrival of 
the Eauhaus, who would be allowed to land before the 
firing commenced. Then a general scrimmage would 
ensue. At grey dawn the following morning the govern- 
ment natives, 330 strong, proceeded to the appointed 
ground ; 250 remained on the left bank as spectators, and 
100 picked men arranged themselves in the most efiective 
manner on the island. The advanced guard, fifty strong, 
was divided into three parties, each under a chief. Riwai 
Tawhitorangi led the centre, Kereti the left, and Hemi 
Maps the right ; the whole under the general charge of 
Tamehana TeAewa. Asupportof fifty men under Haimona 
were pasted at the other end of the island, at least 200 
yards irom the advanced guard — much too far to give 
efiective support if the 130 Hauhaus attacked vigorously. 
The main body under Meto Kingi were :jOO yards away, 
separated &om the combatants by an arm of the river, 
and utterly nuable to assist their friends. Why so small 
a party should have been detached to 0ght 130 Hauhaus, 
mad with &nat]cism and belief in their own invulnerability, 
it is difficult to say, the more so that nearly if not all the 
Mendly natives did undoubtedly believe that they were 
fighting against men who were assisted by the angels. We 
D 2 

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36 BEHINI8CENCR8 OF TEE 

are bound to admire their course rather than tteir 
dificretion in putting themeelves in a position compara- 
tively unsupported, and from whence they could retreat 
only by Bwimmlng. 

It must not be supposed that tbe Wanganui fought 
only to save the town of Wanganui ; far from it, at that 
time they were strong snpporters of the king, therefore 
in a measure inimical to the Europeans. They fought 
for the niana (influence) of the tribe. Ko hostile war party 
had ever forced the river, and none ever should do bo. 
Onr friends whom we left at their poets on the island had 
not long to wait. The nauhaus came down the river, and 
grounded their canoes on a shingle spit of the appointed 
battle-ground. The warriors sprang on shore like men 
confident of snocess. Wanganui allowed them to land 
as agreed upon, and then a portion of the advanced guard 
fired a volley. The Hanhaus were not thirty yards distant, 
yet none of them fell. At this moment a lay brother 
living with tie Catholic priest. Father Pezant, msbed for- 
ward, and implored the opposing party to atop the fighting. 
No one listened to him, and the return volley laid bim 
dead, together with many others, including the chie& 
Kiwai and Eereti. The centre and left, disheartened 1^ the 
loss of their chiefs, began to give way, shouting that the 
enemy were invulnerable ; but Hemi Nape held his ground, 
and soon proved to the contrary. Kevertheless they were 
driven slowly back by the overwhelming force of the 
HauhauB. Two-thirds of the island had been gained, and 
the battle appeared to be lost, when suddenly Tamefaana 
Te Aewa came to the rescue. He had vainly tried to bring 
back the fugitives ; but not succeeding, had returned to 
share the &te of those who fought. Hemi called on his 
men to take cover &om the Eauhau fire, and hold their 
ground. He was obeyed by all but Tamehana, who fought 
like a demon, killing two men with his douUe -barrelled 
gun. At this critioal moment Hemi Nape, the last of 
the three leaders, was shot dead. His son Marino took 



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WAB m NEW ZEiXAin}. 37 

oommand. Nearly all bis man were more or less severely 
wounded ; and as the HanhanB rruhed forward to finish the 
fight, our men fired a volley into them at close qnarters, 
killing several ; bnt tbey still oame on, and for a moment the 
&te of Wanganni trembled in the balance. Tamehana was 
eqnnl to the occasion. Seising the spear of a dead iqan, he 
drove it throngh the nearest Haohan, taking his gun and 
tomahawk. The latter he drove so deeply into the head of 
a second, that in wrenohiog it ont the handle was broken. 
Finding the gnn unloaded he dashed it in the &oee of his 
foes, and seized another, wbioh he was abont to fire when a 
bullet struck him in the arm. He nevertheless killed bis 
man. This was bis last effort. The next moment a bullet 
shattered his kneo to pieoes. The tomahawk would soon 
have finished him, but his gallant stand had given Haimona 
time to oome up with the support and rallied fugitives. 
Ashamed of their conduct they came determined to wipe it 
ont They fired one volley, killing a chief (brother to 
Fehi), and then charged pell-mell upon the Hauhaus. There 
was no time to re-load, bo down went tbe gnnii, and all 
went in with the tomahawk. The enemy were driven in 
oonfnsion to the upper end of the island, where, followed 
by the tomahawks of their pureaera and exposed to the 
cross fire of Mete Kingi'a people, they ruBhed in a body 
into the water, and attempted to swim the rapid to the 
right bank. Just then Haimona recognised the prophet 
among the swimmers. He called to one of his beat fighting 
men (Te Mora) and said " There is your fish," at the same 
time banding him his bone mere. Te More went for the 
fish, and caught him by the hatr just as he reached the 
opposite bank. The prophet seeing tbe fate which 
threatened him, put up bis hand, and said — " Fai Marire, 
Marire ban." The remainder of what Qiigbt have been an 
eloquent speech was ont short by the mere ; Te Moro swam 
back towing his fish, and threw it at Haimona's feet. To 
this day he shows the two gape in tbe mere with great 
pride. Over fifty Hauhaus were buried on the island, and 



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88 BEHINISCENCBS OF THE 

twenty prisonere vere taken hj Hate Eingi, who crossed 
the river and aurrounded some fogitives m a galley. Our 
loas was sixteen killed and nearly forty wounded — rather 
severe when it is remembered that not more than eighty 
men actually took part in the fight. The somewhat 
cowardly behavioar of a portion of Wanganui during the 
early part of the action may be attributed to two canaee : 
namely, the non-reeult of the first volley which confirmed 
them in the belief of Hauhau invulnerability; and secondly, 
in the loss of their leadera Riwai and Keretl, who fell by 
the first Hanhau volley. It was only the gallant be- 
faavionr of Hemi and Tamehana with the meo of Banana 
that turned the scale, and gave us the spectacle of a real 
old Maori fight in modem times. No other tribe can boaat 
of an engt^ment like this for the last fifty years. 

A period of hostility between upper and lower Wanganui, 
Fehi Tnroa's, and Hori Eingi's tribes, followed this 
fight, and lasted until February, 1865, when the Hauhaas 
occupied Ohotahi, close to Hiruharama. The fiat round 
this pah was covered with small oonioal hills, of which 
circumstance the Hauhaus took advantage, fortifying them 
as outworks. They also built a pah on the bill above, from 
which at long range bullets oonld be dropped into Uiru~ 
harama. The friendly natives lost no time in mustering 
their forces, and nearly twohundred men took the fieldunder 
command of Hone Hipango. The first night after they 
arrived, a Ngatipa warrior, Eramea, set out to reconnoitre 
on his own accoant. He crawled nnseeo up to one of the 
hillock pahs, and put bia head in at the gateway to look 
about. The garrison (five men) saw him, and thinking that 
he must be well supported, blazed away wildly, and then 
bolted over the palisades, leaving Eramea In possession. 
His triumphant war-whoop soon brought his ^ends up, 
and they, not to be outdone, carried the remainii^ ont- 
works with a rush. The same night an attempt was 
made against the pah on the range. A few shots had been 
fired on either side, when suddenly a voice from the pah 

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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 39 

shoated, "Take care what yon do; Te Miere and Te 
Uokena ar« here." At the names of those dreaded warrion, 
one of whom was seventy years of age, our men withdrew, 
not caring to face them just then. For some days after 
this, general skirmishes were going on, during which 
a few men were killed on either side. This ittyle of war- 
fare did not snit Te Hipango, who took more decided 
measures. Early one morning he sallied out with all his 
force, and threw ap flying rifle-pits within sixty yards 
of the pah. When his men had possession of the gronnd, 
he proceeded to lay out a asp, and while driving stakes 
into the ground to give the direction, was mortally 
wounded. The hrave chief did not mention that he was 
wounded, but walked quietly back to Hiniharama, where lie 
died soon after. When the news was brought to his men, 
they were perfectly infuriated, and determined to assault 
the pah at once. Had they carried out their intention 
Pehi and bis tribe would have been eitenninated. Wan- 
ganui were actually moving to the attack, when suddenly 
a woman came out of the gateway of the pah, waving a 
white flag. She was recognised as Fehi's wife. The 
firing stopped instantly, the garrison of the pah came out, 
and a general tangi (cry) ensued over their mutual lo(«es ; 
for be it remembered that both parties were Wangaonis, and 
Fehi Tnroa was the great ancestral chief of the whule tribe. 
The celebrated chief Topini Te Mamaku, and Bopina, a 
brother of Fehi, escaped prior to the eurrender of the pah, 
but all the other ohieb and eighty fighting men surrendered, 
or wonid have done bo had they not been Wanganuia, for, 
as Fehi's dignity would have suffered by being made a 
prisoner, he was therefore allowed to walk off, guns and all, 
to the great indignation of many Europeans, who could 
not understand that the tribe would have lowered their 
own dignity by making a prisoner of their greatest chief. 
The total loss in these skirmitihes was nine Hanhaus and 
five friendliee killed, the wounded on either side not known. 



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REMINISCENCES OF THE 



CHAPTER Till. 

PKOaRESa OP THE HADHAD RELIOIOS —continued. 

MUBDER OF THE BEV. MR. VOLCKNEK AND OF MR. FOLLOON. 

Thitb far Te Ua had been extremely unfortunate in his 
choice of prophets. Both Hepanaia and Matene had dis- 
obeyed his iDstruotions in trying to propagate the creed by 
foToe, and both had toet not only their own lives, but a 
large number of men also. Of course their failure was 
attributed to disobedience, and the Maories, far from being 
disheartened, felt that it showed how correct were Te Ua's 
instrnotions, and therefore joined the ranks of the Pai 
Marire with renewed vigonr. 

To supply the places of the two prophete above men- 
tioned, two others were appointed — Patara of Taranaki, and 
Kereopa of the Arawa tribes. Both were initiated into the 
mysteries by Te Ua, and were sent to teach the doctrines 
of Pai Marire to the tribes of the Rawhiti, They took 
with them two European prisoners or deserters, and 
Captain Lloyd's bead. Te Ua's instruotions were written, 
so that there might be no mistake as to their behaviour 
while engaged in the work of Pai Marire. They were 
as follows ; " While on your journey, be careful not to 
interfere with those whom you may meet ; do not quarrel 
with the Pakeha. When you reach Taupe, go on to 
'Whiikalane, thenoa to Opotiki, from there to Waiapu, and 
finally to Turanganui, where your journey will end. If 
this piece of paper should get torn or dirty, ask another 
pieoo from your ["akeha friends, and re-write it, that it 
may arrive clean, and in good condition, to Hirini Te Eani, 
at Turanganui. GiTehim also the fiugand the man's head." 
There ia nothing in tbia letter to justify the after behaviour 
of Eereopa, or even that of Patara. These men, &r from 
obeying ihe peaceful commands of their master, proceeded 



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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 41 

at o&cd to morder and rapine; and from the time Ur. 
Volckser wae murdered at Opotiki, every tribe visited 
broke out in rebellion against law and order. 

Palara'a first acticm on reaching Tanpo, was to vihit the 
house of the Rev. Mr. Grace, which had been left, t<^ther 
with all his property, in charge of the Tokaaui chiefs. 
Fatara took a double-barrelled gna for his own nse, and 
had the remaining articles sold by auction. So far from 
oSeriag any objection to this sale, the Tanpo tribe gladly 
participated, for they were ready converts to Pai Marire. 
Fatara did not remain long in Taapo, bvt deviated from the 
route laid down for bini, and visited the Uriwera tribe at 
TeWhaiti. Two hundred of the tribe met him at Tauaroa. 
They were drawn up in two linos to receive the epirit of 
the deity. The head was used to Irighteu each man, until 
&om terror or over-excitement he went half mad, and 
sprang out aS the line ; he was then stippoeed to have 
accepted the religion. After this ceremony was over, 
Eereopa said — " Now let the widows of those who fell at 
Orakau vent their grief and rage on the head, and the 
living Fakehas." The two Europeans were then placed ou 
either side of the head, and the infuriated women flourished 
spears and tomahawks, over the two men, and made pre- 
tended bitee at the head. Kereopa meanwhile addressed 
the tribe, stating that he had been sent by the great 
prophet Te Ua to convert all the tribes, and that when he 
had finished, prophets would be appointed, and a general 
rising against the Fakeha ensue. He denounced all other 
prophets as false and uoauthorised, and said the true 
Fai Marire would not lose caste if the Fakehaa captured 
them. From Tauaro the Hanhaus proceeded to Whakatane, 
where they were joined by nearly all the people. From 
thence they went on to Opotiki, escorted by the chiefs 
Te Ilura, Wepiha, Apanui, and Mi>komoko. After a abort 
stay, during which the Wbakatohea tribe were oonverted, 
Fatara and some of his men left for Tunapahore, Kereopa 
and others remaining at Opotiki. Before leaving, Fatara 



42 SEUmiBCENCES OF THE 

wrote a letter to Mr. Volckner, the Chnroh of England 
minister, waraiag him not to return, as the Maoriea would 
aot have minintent of any religion among ihem for the 
fnture. Mr. Volckner had lived some years at Opotiki 
as a missionary to the Protestant tiibc«. On his first 
arrival, he found no church for his people to worship 
in. He at onoe set to work, and by means of Maori 
subscriptions, and liberal donations on his ovm part> 
built a substantial edifice. His own house was some 
little distance from the church, facing the entrance to 
the river ; and a light placed in the gable window served 
as a beaoon to the small craft trading between the port and 
Auckland. Tliis circumstance is worthy of note, from the 
fact that it served as one of the articles of impeachment 
against him. 

Before the war broke out in Waikato, Mr, Volckner bad 
been a great favourite with the Opotiki Maories, and 
deservedly so, for few missionaries had done more to 
deserve reepect; but after the war commenced, this feeling 
changed to one of dietrast, brought about by his evident 
anxiety to prevent hiB people joirjing in (he revolt. 
Maori-like, over Buspicious, they expreesed a belief that 
his house had been built opposite the mouth of the river for 
no other purpose than to guide man-of-war boats to surprise 
them at night. About this period two individuals arrived 
from Auckland, vi4 Waikato, and brought letters from the 
Eingites inviting the Whakatohea to participate in the 
plunder of Auckland, which city they had taken. This 
tale, improbable as it may appear, obtained implicit belief 
from the tribe ; and to make things worse, a report waa 
spread that Volckner had caused a Catholic priest to be 
transported, becaiise he was friendly to the king party. 
This made them furious, and when a trader who had just 
arrived from Auckland stoutly denied the report, a chief 
took a letter from his pocket, and said, " It is uselei-B to 
deny it, for it is written here by the priest himself. I am 
told not to show this letter to any Pakeha, but we know 

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THE REVi* C 5 VOLKNKP. 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 43 

that Yolckner is a bitter enemy of onre." Such being the 
fitate of feeling, Hr. Volckner waa warned not to return 
&om Auckland, where he than was. But there 1b nothing 
BO obstinate as a good man, who jndgea othen by his 
own standard ; and he replied — " I have done no harm, 
therefore they cannot possibly have enmity towards mo." 
It was at this critical time that Patara and Kereopa arrived, 
and fonnd the tribe ripe and ready for any atrocity. 
They were welcomed with war-dances and speechifying. 
Kereopa was the first of the fanatics to speak. He informed 
his hearers that he came to make ibe place sacred to the 
new religion, and that they must forsake the old foiTos and 
ceremonies. Ee also ordered them to drive away the 
Pakehas living amongst them. The Uhakatohea con- 
sented to receive the Hanhan faith, but refused to drive 
away men who had lived with them for years. The Niu 
was then erected, the head placed beside it, and the tribe 
initiated. On the following day, Patara and Eereopa, 
with their Taranaki followers, collected Mr. Volckner'e 
horses, broke into his house, and sold the things byanotion, 
as tbey had previously done with Mr. Grace's things. It 
was then that Patara wrote the letter to Ur. Volckner, 
telling him what had been done, and warning him not 
to retom. He then left for Tnnapahore. On the follow- 
ing day, the 1st of March, 1866, the schooner Eclip»« 
arrived in the Opotiki river, having on board as passengers 
Messrs. Grace and Volckner. Eereopa was absent at the 
time, having gone a short distance inland, but the chief 
HokoMokoBentameesenger totellbim thatthemissiouariea 
were in their pow^r. Meanwhile, Te Whiwhini, one of the 
Taranakis, boarded the vessel, and ordered Captain Levy 
not to land any cargo until Eereopa arrived. Be then 
demanded the captain's Hebrew Bible, and pretended to 
read it, expressing great satisfaotion in the possession of 
BO valuable a work. 

On Eereopa's arrival he called a meeting, and addressing 
the assembly, said — " I have to remind you tiiat if yon do 



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44 BEMIMKCENCEB OP THE 

not ^ree to my proposals you will be deatroyed by my 
god. This is my frord, fetch the Pakeba ministera, that 
I may destroy them." This speech had such an effect on 
the anperatitioos Maoriea that they did not dare even to 
shake hands with the captiTes. They foresaw their fate, 
and feared to rouse the anger of the Hanhan god by a show 
of sympathy, lite passengers and orew, with the exception 
of Captain Levy (who as a Jew was supposed to be a sort 
of Hauhan), were marched off to the Boman Catholic chapel, 
outside which they were kept standing for nearly two 
houis, while the debate on their fate went on inside. 
Finally, they were all placed in a wretched hut to await 
sentenoe. Another meeting was held that night, at which 
it was resolved to hang Mr. Volokner, and keep Mr. Grace 
a prisoner. The majorify of the tribe voted against their 
pastor, but there were a few good men who stood out 
manfully against this murder — notably Tiwai and Te 
Hanapia. The latter demanded that Volckner should be 
given over to him. Kereopa replied, " To-morrow you ehall 
know my decision." Later In the day he renewed his 
request, and was told that one of them would be given to him 
on the following day. About 2 p.m., on the 2nd of March, 
twenty armed men under Heremita came to the priHoner'a 
whare. and took Mr. Volckner ; eight of them remained as 
a guard to prevent the others following. He was first 
taken to the church, wbero his coat and waistcoat were 
taken off, his hands tied, and a rope placed round his neck ; 
he was then led out to a willow-tree which had been 
selected as a gallows, Kanapia, seeing the Hauhaus pass, 
attempted a rescue, but was upset into a deep creek, and at 
the same moment Mr. Volckner was run up to the branch 
of the willow. After hanging a few momenta, he was 
lowered, and Kereopa shot him through the body. When 
Banapia heard the gun he knew he was too late, and returned 
to his whare. After being hauled up to the block and let 
down with a jerk several times until life was extinct, the body 
was out down and oarried into the ohnrch, where Kereopa 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 45 

ordered the cbief Hike to out the head oJF. He then 
called on all the tribe to taste Volokner's blood, and to 
^ve them enconragement gouged out and swallowed 
the eyes, 

ITie chief Werapoalta refosed to allow the Ngatiraa 
BeotioQ of the tribe to taate the blood, but all the other 
lories did bo, and besmeared thomaelTea with it. A 
woman named Tepara is said to have been the first to 
bebave in this barbanma manner. She had been servant 
to Volckner, and was brought up and educated hy the 
miasionariea in tbe Bay of Islands. There is some doubt 
as to who pat the rope ronnd Ur.'Volckner's neck ; some 
aooonnts say that Pokeno did so, but the balance of evidence 
is in favour of Heramita Kahnpaea baTing done so; 
oertaiu it is that he took a most active part throi^hout 
the affair. Almost eveiy man in the tribe would seem to 
haTe been equally guilty of this most barbarous raurder. 
The Ngutima (Roman Catholic) section of tbe Whakatohea 
oertainly did not take part in the murder, but only because 
the chief Werapoaka ordered them to remain in their pah, 
and leave the murder to Volokner'a own people. In the 
scenes that ensued they took a very active part, Te 
Banapia comes well out of the afiair, for not only had he 
the courage to re^se his consent, both at the meeting, and 
afterwards when Hakaraia tried to persuade him, but he 
even attempted to rescue Mr. Volckner, and might have 
Bucoeeded had he not been upset off the plank into deep 
water. He and old Tiwai were the bright exceptions to a 
dark deed. On the same day that the murder was com- 
mitted, Eereopa returned to the inland pah and awaited the 
return of Patartt, to whom he sent an aoocunt of his doings. 
That evening the latter returned, and calling the people 
ti^tbersaid — "This is Kereopa's work, notmine. Eereopa 
ia an Arawa, and hates you because you fought against his 
tribe. He has done this deed out of Tevenge, for he knows 
that it will bring the Pakehas among you to seek payment." 
He then sent for Eereopa to come to Opotiki and give an 
■cooimt of himself ; but the latter was afraid to appear, and 

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46 BEMINIBCENCES OP THE 

started for Povar^ Bay, whi ther he was followed by Patitra 
to prevent fnrtker mischief. 

After Mr. Volckner's murder Mr. Qr&oe waa formally tried 
before the whole tribe. He was accused of teaching the 
natives a false doctrine for the pnrpose of deceiving them; 
but the charge broke down. Finally, Pa tara told htm that 
he wonld have to go with him to Poverty Bay. Mr. Graoe 
excused himself on the score of ^e and weakness, and 
proposed that he should be ransomed, either for money or 
that some prisoner in the faands of the Qovemment should 
be given in exchange. To this latter proposition they 
assented, saying they would take old Hon Tnpaea, a great 
chief of Tauranga, who had been arrested a short time 
before while att«mptit^^ to propagate the Pai Marire among 
the Arawa. Patara upon the whole behaved very well 
to Mr. Grace, allowed bim to write to bis wife, and told 
bim that he was at liberty to go to any part of the Opotiki 
fiat, remarking that they were not like the Pakeha, who 
kept their prisoners shut up. For nearly a fortnight Mr. 
Qrace waited anxiously for Captain Levy to sail for 
Tauranga with Patara's letter offering to exchange him for 
Hori Tupaea. On the 16th the schooner dropped down 
to the Heads, but could not get over the bar that night. 
On the following morning a lai^ three-masted steamer 
was seen in the offing. Captain Levy and his brother. 
taking advantage of the absence of nearly all the natives 
(who were at a feast inland), got into a canoe and paddled 
down to the schooner. They sent up the boat to take all 
their stores away from the village in the hope of escaping; 
and while Captain Levy was loading, one of the crew said 
to Mr. Grace — " Go down to the point and we will take you 
on hoard as we pass." Mr. Qraoe followed the instructions, 
sauntered carelessly through two or three villages test he 
should be suspected, and waa picked up by the boat. The 
goods were taken on board the schooner, and the boat then 
crossed the bar and went oat to the steamer, which proved 
to be E.M.S. Edipte, Captain Fremantle, who had been 
aent down to examine into the reports which had reached 
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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 47 

Auckland of the death of Mr. Volobner. Two well- 
m&niied boats were sent to tow out the Bchoouer, and in a 
very abort time all were eafe. 

This was not the only outrage oommitted on the coast 
by the Pai Marire fanatics. A short time after Mr. 
Volckner's death, the cutter Kaie arrived off Whakatane. 
She had on board the Government agent, Mr. Fulloon, two 
half-caste hojs, aad three men including the caplain. 
The cutter anchored off the bar to await high tide, and 
not anticipating danger took no precantious t^iainst it. 
Unfortunately for the doomed men, one of the Tarauaki 
prophets, Horomona, was then at Whakatane. On the 
arrival of the vessel he called a meeting of the Patntatahi 
tribe, and demanded that the orew and passengers should 
be killed. It was tbe Opotiki tragedy acted over again. 
The obirf Te Hura rose up, and said, " I consent." This 
was sufficient; twenty men manned two whale-boats and 
boarded the cutter. Eirimangu, one of the leaders, went 
down into tbe cabin and fuund Mr. FuUood asleep. His 
revolver was under bis pillow ; Eirimangii seized it and 
shot him dead. This was the signal for a general maasacre. 
The two boys were saved, but tbe orew were all killed, and 
the vessel plundered. Some months after, tbe murderers 
were captured by the Arawa under Major Mair. They were 
tried, and nearly all of them convicted, but only two of 
tbem, Horomona and Elrimangn, were banged. Moko 
Moko and Hakaraia, who had been conceraed in Hr. 
Volckner's mnrder, were hanged at the same time. While 
in gaol they were visited by a man they bad known for 
years. He asked tbem If they admitted tbe justice of tbeir 
sentence. Tbey said — " Yes we do, but there are many 
others now at large who are more guilty, and we should die 
happy if we bad only time given us for revenge on tbe 
men who led us into ihie trap." Thus the murderers did 
not escape altogether scot free; bnt two of the greatest 
scoundrels, Wepiha and Te Awanui, were never tried for 
the crime in which they took so prominent a part 



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BEHINISGENCE8 OF THE 



CHAPTER EX. 

CAPrnBB OF THE WERAROA PAH. 

After the fight at Moatoa the Wanganni tribe, elated hy 
SQOcese, -waited upon Mr. Mantell, the native miniator, 
and asked permiseion to attaok the Weraroa pah, as a 
Bort of revenge upon the Haufaans for having attacked 
them on their own river. Mr. Mantell declined to en* 
courage the expedition, lest it should in any way inter- 
fere with General Cameron's plan, and the Wangannis, 
disgusted with what they considered Pakeha red tape, 
returned to their villages. This stronghold of the enemy 
was situated about fifteen miles from the town of Wan- 
ganui, and ten miles from the boundary of the settled 
district to whioh it was a standing menace. The position 
was naturally strong, but owed little to art, it being by do 
means in the beat style of Maori fortification. General 
Cameron had, however, a different impression, for in his 
correspondence with His Excellency Sir G. Grey he writes, 
*' I consider my force insufficient to attack so formidable 
a work ae the Weraroa pah. It would be necessary to 
establish two po&t« to keep our oommnnioatioii open with 
Wanganni, and we should have to furnish escorts daily for 
convoys. This would reduce my force to 700 or 800 men, 
whioh would not be sufficient to provide ibr the protection 
of the camp in such a country, and at the same time carry 
on all the laborious opeiations of the siege. Instead of 
1100 men, my present available force, I should require 
6000." Holding these opinions, however ill founded; it ia 
not astonishing that General Cameron should have passed 
by the pah without attacking, or that he should have 
treated the oBsi of the Wanganui tribes as mere bonnce. 
Uztfortunately for himself he recorded these opinions io 
writing, and the result proved ooncluBively that he mis- 



i.vCoogIc 



WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 49 

JTidged both the streDgth of the pah and the ability of the 
Wanganai to take it, for he writee to Bir George drey, " I 
was very oonfident that the deeire stated to have been 
entertained by the friendly nativeB to be allowed to attaok 
the Wetaroa was mere bonnoe ; and I was astonished that 
you should have believed in it, that is to say, if yon really 
did believe in it, and yet yon oonld haidly have professed 
that £00 natives should attempt what I told you I would 
not nodertake with leas than 2000 soldien." About the 
time that this letter was written, the Colonial Government, 
seeing the necessity of providing for the defence of the 
irontier and occnpation of the oonfisoated land, were en- 
listing men. One company of Bash Bangers sixty strong, 
snda native contingent of 110 men, were dnly enrolled, and 
in addition to these corps, Yon Tempeky with 100 Forest 
Baiters was at Nnknman), forty men of the Yeonum 
Cavalry were in Wanganni, and lastly, there were at least 
400 Haories ready at any moment to assist their relatives 
in the contingent. Thus the Government oonld rely upon 
an active force of 500 men, after garrisoning the varioos 
poets held by them. The Native Contingent were at 
this period stationed at Pipiriki, under Captain Thomas 
McDonnell. This officer had served with distinction in 
the Waikato and at Maketn, and a better selection could 
not have been made, as his knowledge of the native 
langnt^ and customs was superior to that of any officer 
in the service. The humdrum life at Pipiriki did not 
•nit hie active mind, and having heard from the Uaories 
that they had offered to take the Weraroa but had been 
prevented by the Government, be proceeded to stir up 
their enthusiasm anew. 

This was a simple matter, for, notwithstanding General 
Cameron's opinion, the Maories really had intended to 
attack the pah. Onoe the leading chiefs were won over, 
the rest was easy. The Native Contingent, contrary to the 
articles of war made and provided for such cases, suddenly 
informed their commanding officer that they were going to 



50 REMINISCENCEB OP THE 

Wanganui en route for the Weraroa. Captain McDonnell 
expressed a proper amonnt of aetoniahm«iit and indignation 
at this very irregular proceeding, and informed tbem that 
Cnptain Brassey.the senior officer at the station, would not 
allow them to leave, Oaptain Braasey would not hear of it, 
and the contingent admitted that he waa quite right, but 
at the same time qnietly put their baggage into the canoee 
ready to start. Under these circumstances McEtonnell felt 
oonntrained to follow, if only to see that they behavod 
theDiBelves. On the 18th of June, 1865, about one 
hundred and eighty Maories of the oontingentand kupapas 
(volunteers) were ready to stait from Wanganui, where 
they had been joined by the Yeoman Cavalry under Major 
Rookea. On the following day the expedition started Snd 
camped at the Okeha sandhills, from whence a spy was 
sent out to communicate with the pah, and ascertain the 
feelings of the Haubaus by means of one of their ohiefs 
(Peblmana) who was known to be friendly to the Wao- 
ganuis. The negotiations went on for some days, during 
which time our men were not over-welt provided with 
rations, until some of tike troopera drove a fine wild hullook 
up to the camp. A general rush was made upon him by the 
natives; the bullock charged and knocked over one man, 
but in a moment twenty men were upon him, and he was 
literally lifted off the ground and thrown down, when one 
of the troopers despatched him with a aword-thrust through 
the heart. After this incident the men were decidedly 
more contented with tbeir tot, and wheu our spy returned 
with a message from Febimana, to the effect that moat of 
the garrison were absent and that he bad persuaded the 
remainder to surrender, there was a general rush to arms 
and the whole force marohed to Maenene, distant about 
half a mile from the Weraroa, where the Hauhane were to 
meet us and surrender. But our hopes were doomed to be 
blighted, for when we reached the appointed place, only 
Pehimana appeared, and he informed us that the more 
violent and fanatic portion of the garrison had returned and 
put a atop to the surrender. Under these circumstances he 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 61 

had deemed it advisftbls to snrrender himself m a pioof of 
his good faith. The indignation of the WanganniB may be 
imagined ; each man silently stripped, and in a few momenta 
the ohonu of their war-danca might have been heard two 
milee off. Mt^cv Von Tempeky who was with na galloped off 
to bring up his men, and that afternoon would have seen 
a very pret^ fight bad not the gOTemmeut agent (Colonel 
Lc^;an, 67th B^ment) and his staff appeared upon the 
scene, and ordered Captain MoDonnell to maroh his men 
back to Wanganni, as he was acting without the authority 
of the Oovemor. UcDonnell refused to obey ; then Colonel 
Logan ordered the natires to retnm, telling them that he 
aot«d under instructions &om Sir George Grey. Had he 
TuedthenameoftheGoTemment, the Wanganui would have 
langhed, but the Oovemor's name was different ; he was 
not an abstract idea bnt a real personage, and they, haviog 
great belief in the man, combined with reepect for his 
power, reluctanUy shouldered their weapons and returned 
to the Okeha camp. After this check. Von Tempsky and 
UcDonnell resolved to go to Wellington and obtain his 
Excellency's consent to the attack, but at the last moment 
the cffioer commanding the troop in the district ordered 
them to retnain, informing them that Colonel Logan was 
going to ascertain the Governor's intentions. Thisarrange- 
ment wonld have disconoerted the two colonial officers, 
bat McDonnell ont-manaeuTred the imperial authorities by 
sending the chiefs Hori Eingi and Kawana Paipai to re- 
present their side of the question. The imperial authorities 
tried in vain to detain them ; old Hori was obstioato and 
refosed to leave the steamer, and Colonel Logan had to go 
down with them to make good his story. The chiefs were, 
however, too many for him, and the result answered 
McDonnell's expectations, for not only was he authorised 
to proceed with the operations, but he was informed 
that his Excellency wonld shortly arrive and assume 
command. By the 14th of July the furce was again 
before the Weraroa, on this occosion in much greater 
E 2 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



62 BEMINISCENCEB OP THE 

Btrengtii.therebeiiig 160 Europeans and about SOOUaories 
in camp. CommTinioation waa again opened with the 
pab, and Majoi Rookes, MoDoQiiell, Hori Kingi and 
Eepa were invited to visit them in the village of 
Ferekama, which was aitTiated in the valley below and on 
the further side of the pah. Here they remained for some 
days urging the people to rarrender, which they finally 
promised to do, provided that the Pakakohe tribe at Te 
Pntahi would also agree to snrreuder. This tribe bore a 
veiy bad oharacter, even in the old cannibal daya they 
were known for treachery and murders ; but a full know- 
ledge of these facts did not deter MoDonnell from visiting 
them on his peace mission. The Wanganuis would not 
let him go alone, but sent Eawana Paipai and Eepa 
with him, judging rightly that even the Fakakohi would 
think twice before they killed chiefii whose men would be 
certain to avenge them. When they entered the pah the 
tribe went through some Hauhau ceremonies, and then 
conducted their visitors to the council whare, where the 
talking commenced, HoDonnell and his friends urging 
surrender, which Te Onekura and the Fakakohi steadily 
refused. Seeing that nothing was to be gained from this 
people, McDonnell left at daybreak and returned to 
Ferekama, where a messenger awaited him with intelli- 
gence of his Excellency's arrival at the oamp. 

Sir Geoi^ Grey, wishing if possible to avoid bloodshed, 
sent Captain McDonnell several times to the pah, urging a 
peaceful solution of the difficulty. Two of the chiefs 
favoured this view, and were anxious to surrender, but 
their men, guided 1^ a Hauhau prophet, prolonged the 
n^otiations fioia day to day, ostensibly to give the 
women and children time to leave and carry off their 
things ; the real reason was, however, that reinforcements 
hod been promised frum Patea and Upper Wanganni, and 
could not arrive for some days. 

This piece of diplomacy did not deceive Sir George, 
who, to bring things to a climax, resolved to go in person 
and take poeseasion of the pah. Aperahama and Fehimana 



WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 63 

(the two oliiefa 1>efore me&tioned) were Mnt on in front to 
make anaDgementa for his reception, and Hori Eingi 
was informed that he would be required to attend hia 
Eixoellenoy. Hori knew so well the mnrderons cbaracter 
of tiie Ngaranm and Pakakohi tribes, that he showed 
oonaiderable disinclination to pat himself in their power ; 
bat finding Sir Geot^ determined to go at all risks, he 
followed witb unconcealed distrast. When within 200 
yards of the pah the party was stopped by the Haabaas, 
who asked whether in the event of their surrender they 
sliouldbepuniBhed for foTTnoT acta of rebellion." Sir George 
assored them that only mnrderers 'would be punished. 
This appeared to satisfy them, and Aperohama called on all 
to enter the pah; Sir Geoi^ ordered hia'Staff to remain 
ivhere they were, and taking with hiin Hori and one other 
cbie^ moved toward the pah. There is many a slip twixt 
Gup and lip in Maori mattors. The garrison appeared to 
be on the point of surrender; but unfortunately, their 
prophet was suddenly seized with a fit of compunction, 
fiuatdcism, or something else, and called on his men to 
atop the Europeans. The Hauhaus got ready their guns, 
and the semi-Hanhau chiefis, Aperahama and Pehimana, 
alarmed at their responsibility, implored Sir George to 
retam to Maenene, which he did, after being informed by 
the prophet that the pah would never be sturended. The 
two chiefs above-mentioned were refused admittance to 
their own pah, as friends of the Pakeha. This so disgusted 
them, that after reviling the Hauhan religion they finally 
left their people, and took up quarters with the contingent. 
Even after this a&ir the people of the pah attempted to 
keep ap the negotiations, informing Sir George that if he 
would send his men back to Wanganui they would oeafie 
haetilities and live peaoeably. Sir George promptly re- 
fuaed to withdraw the force, and wrote to General Waddy, 
asking whether the instmotionB given him by General 
Cameron would permit his commanding the force before 
the pah and direotii^ the operations. The reply was that 
his instructions would not permit him to take an active 

losic 



54 EEMINISCENCES OF THE 

part in the redaction of the pah. His Excellency, after 
pointing out the loss to the pnblio service that Qeoeral 
Cameron's orders would entail, requeeted that 400 men 
might be sent to Maenene aa a moral support. 

DelightM phrase, ooDTCTing to the nnsophisticated 
mind of the Bush Banger the idea of a camp-guard to look 
after baggt^;e, for such were the duties of the 400. 
General Wadd; complied with this latter request, and 
thus allowed Sir George Grey to use the whole of the 
colonials in the propoeed operations. The plans were 
as follows : about four hundred men under Ton Tempsky 
and McDonnell would make a long detour through the bush 
by a track that had already been soonted, and camp for 
the night on the Earaka plateau, a position in rear of the 
Weraroa, and between that stronghold and the village of 
Areiahi, where a large number of the enemy were living 
in &ncied security. Arrangements were made to start on 
the Idth July, but that evening an orderly arrived from 
Wanganui, with intelligence that the Upper Wanganni 
and Tanpo tribes, 600 strong, had surrounded Captain 
Brassey and his detachment at Fipiriki and cut off bis 
communioations. This news alarmed the contingent and 
kupapas fbr the safety of their relatives, and the obstmo- 
tive chief Mete Eingi used all his influenoe tu induce them 
to start at once for Wanganui. This movement would 
have put a stop to the Weraroa operationa, but luckily 
Sir George Grey was present. His all-powerful influence 
crushed Mete Kin^i, and the Maories agreed to niarch on 
the following morning and take the pah. after whioh the 
whole force were to march to the relief of Fipiriki. At 11 
A.M. on the 20th nearly four hundred men paraded under the 
command of Major Rookes (who had taken Von Tempsky's 
place in consequence of the latter's illness), and marched 
into the bush through torrents of rain and hail. About 
sunset they reached the edge of the Earaka plateau, and 
when sufGciently dark to oonoeat the movement, maiohed 
to the ridge dividing the Hauhau villages of Ferekama 
and Areiahi ; here the column was halted and ordm^ to 

o;;lc 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 55 

lie down in the high m&nnka and await the dawn. A 
more no oomfoi-tablu night was never passed by theooloniiil 
forces ; the men were wet thningli, and it was piercingly 
<M>td. and worse still, moat of tliem were without blankets 
or food, foi they did not know that they woald he oat all 
night, thinking it was a scouting expedition. Smoking 
and talking were atriotly forbidden, and they oould only 
huddle brother in the wet manuka and pray for an early 
dawn. I had fortunately brought a blanket with me and 
shared it with Eepa and Wirihana, two officers of the 
oontingent, when I am sorry to say we not only straok 
matches (an unfurgiveable offence) and lighted our pipes 
nnder the said blanket, but all the men in our neigh- 
boarhood, finding that the light oonld not be seen, did 
likewise, creating such a sulphureous atmosphere that 
we were obliged to uncover out heada. Boon after we 
arrived at this place, the enemy oould be heard speechify- 
ing in the Areiahi village ; Boouts, well aoquainted with 
the locality, were sent out to asoertain their numbers. On 
their return they reported very few men in the village, 
oonolnsively proriug that they had not been near the 
place. 

About an hour before dawn Captain McDonnell, who 
had been told off to attat:k this village, came round and 
roused his men up, but with very indifferent success, for 
the Native Contingent and kupapaa were half-frozen and 
cramped with their long night-watch, and did not feel in 
the humour to move. At last about forty of ihem, under the 
European sergeant-major, slid down the steep and narrow 
toaok to the village, and kneeling in a pond of water close 
to the nearest whare, awaited the arrival of Captain 
MoBonnell, who was vainly trying to get the remainder 
to follow him. Just at grey dawn he came down the hill 
and joined the small party ; there was not a moment to 
lose, for the whares were scattered about at some distance 
from one another, and had our presence been disoovered 
and the enemy succeeded in escaping to the high manuka- 
sornb in rear of the huts, we should have been in a veiy 



.>oglc 



56 BEHDnSCENOBB OF THE 

awkward position, for the river waa in onr rear and their 
fire woald have swept the open space between it and the 
Borub. Onr party moved on eileotly until they reached 
the first whare, where McDonnell asked in a load voioe 
whether they wanted peace or war ? There waa no time to 
wait for the answer, for eveiy door opened Bimnltaneonsly 
and the Hanhans began (o swarm ont ; for a few minntee 
there ■waa rather lively work, one or two of them escaped, 
bnt the majority were too dose to us. A few heads were 
gently admonished with the butts of our rifles, as they 
were poked ont of the low doorways, while those already 
onlside were ordered back with the alternative of instant 
death ; — and in a few moments all were again shut into 
their honses and had sentries posted over them. It was 
now evident to all that the enemy were in maob greater 
strength than we had anticipated, and that care would 
be needed to prevent their escape; it was deoided to 
take the ooonpanta of each whare one hy one, making 
them walk ont, leaving their arms behind tbetn. As 
each hut was cleared, the priaonera were walked off and 
placed inside the sacred fence round the Niu. They did 
notallsnirendertiuietly; ferfromit. In the large Bunanga 
whare there were about twenty men of the Ngatipukeko 
tribe of Whakalans ; these men had only arrived &om 
Pipiriki the previous evening, and were so exasperated at 
their misfortune, that when called upon to surrender, one 
of them opened a window and fired both barrels of his 
gun ; the bullets passed between McDonnell and Haimona. 
<> One more shot," said McDonnell, " and I will kill every 
man in the plaoe. I will give yon while I oount five to 
surrender." The contingent, delighted at the prospect, 
had already cocked and levelled their rifles, when the 
door opened and a man shouted, " Is that McDonnell ?" It 
vras Tiopera, Ngatipukeko chief; he had recognised the 
voice, and was jost in time to save his people. He oame 
out and shook hands with McDonnell, who informed bim 
that he wished to avoid bloodshed, and wonld spare their 
lives, provided they surrendered. With these aasuranoes 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 67 

he letnnied to the whare, and his men came out. One 
other lot gave ns a deal of trouble, threatening to fire upon 
na if we went near them ; bnt in the end they also saw fit 
to come out. One old white-haired man, who oame out 
■with the rest, waa aeised with a fit of fury when he saw ns, 
and mahed back for his gon. The sergeant-nuijoT seized him 
hy the blanket, but the old fellow slipped out of it, and would 
oartainly hare killed some one, hod not MoDonnell caught 
liiin by the hair and so seunred him eSectoally. Imme- 
diately after entering the Tillage, sentriee bad been placed 
in ambTisb to watoh the river ; after the lost prisoner had 
been eecnred, one of tbem waa seen to signal and point 
up the river. About a dozen men placed themaelveB in 
unbash at the mouth of a oreek that ran into the river, 
from whence they oould see a canoe with two men and 
two women coming slowly down, little thinking that our 
rifles covered them. They ran on shore close to the 
ambush, and aa they did so our men showed themselves. 
One of the crew had just risen to step on shore, gun in 
one band and paddle in the other. When he saw us rise 
he appeared petrified ; the paddle foil from his hand, his 
jaw fell, and he seemed unable to move, although ordered 
to give up his gun. The other man was nearly aa much 
aSeot«d, but the women, although yellow with fright, had 
more presence of mind and b^an to pai marire us, placing 
their hands alternately upon the forehead and breast, and 
waving the palms towards ns, at the same time talking 
what they believed to be pure English. The Native Con- 
tingent gazed at them for some moments in astonishment, 
and then burst into yells of laughter. The poor women, 
who at first had thonght their spella were working, were 
dreadfully abashed, and followed ns dejectedly to where 
the other prisoners eat. By this time the work of do- 
stmotion was over ; all the whares were burnt, and piles 
of loot, among which were fifty guns, two kegs of powder, 
two greenstone meres, and other articles too nnmerous to 
mention, were lying in heaps ready to be carried oS, 
Our men were lying about round the prisoners, smoking 



58 REMINISCENCES OF THE 

their pipes, when eaddenly the high mannba-Bomb be- 
tween the bnah and the village was seen to move, as if 
a man was making his way through it. Insfinotively the 
guard stood to their arms, and presently a tall naked 
sav^e walked out and advanced towards the prisonen. 
He was unarmed, but held one hand above his head, the 
palm turned outwards. Without taking the smallest notice 
of the guard, he walked three times round the flagstaff, 
muttering Hauhan incantations, accentuating bis pbberisb 
as though it were English. He evidently believed that he 
oould bewitch us and liberate his friends. Perhaps he 
might have done so had he been allowed to complete the 
third circle; but he was not, for McDonnell, in the most 
unfeeling maimer, seized him by the back hair, which 
was long, & la Hanhan, and jerked him off his feet, thus 
nipping a great magician in the bud. During these 
operattons, Major Bookes and the main body were holding 
the Earaka plateau, to prevent reinforcements being sent 
from the Weraroa to assiBt their friends at Areiahi, 
Intelligence of our success was sent to him, with a request 
that he would build a small stockade, for the safety of the 
prisoners during the night, and also send more men to 
assist us in preventing their escape while marching up 
the narrow busfa-traok to the plateau. Forty men were 
promptly sent to our assistance. McDonnell, not wishing 
to encumber himsell with useless prisoners, gave the 
women, children, and old men their liberty, after duly 
cautioning them as to their future conduct. A few men 
belonging to Fehimana's tribe were also released, on the 
chief becoming surety for th«ir good bebaviour. The 
remainder, fifty able-bodied men, were marched safely to 
the Earaka, and handed over to the Forest Rangers until 
the stockade could be completed. So far our operations 
bad been carried cut in a very satisfactory manner ; but 
there still remained the Weraroa to be dealt with, and 
that oould only be taken under cover of the night, for the 
diffs in rear were ao precipitous that they could not be 
sc^ed in the face of an enemy. To while away the time, 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 59 

some of our best sbots, including Captain A. Bobs, 
Ensign Robs of the Forest RangerB, and others were told oft' 
to try the range of the Weraroa, using the 60O yards 
Bights. They soon raised a oommotion in a small pah 
below the main work, and cleared the natives completely 
oat of it. About 9 p.m. the whole force, with the eicep- 
tion of forty men, left to gaard the ptisoners, started to 
attack the Weraroa. The night was very dark, and oar 
march necessarily slow. The village of Perekama was 
entered noiselessly, and our men were abuut to climb the 
steep tace leading to the pah, when a voice suddenly called 
to ns not to fire and asked for McDonnell. The man 
proved to be one of Pehimana's men named Heteraka. He 
stated that he believed the enemy had denerted the 
Weraroa, for none of them had been near the village 
dnring the afternoon, and most of the villagers had left, 
taking with them their property. This statement Major 
Bookes considered satisiactory, and ordered the men to 
bait for the night at Ferekama, while Adjutant Boss, 
Captain Geoi^, and the sei^eant-major were sent on to 
reconnoitre the pah, and if they found it deserted, were to 
pass through and inform his Excellency at Camp Mainene 
of the enemy's flight. They found it had been deserted 
during the night, one old Maori woman being the sole 
oooupant, the knowledge of our capture during the 
night, and of the position we held, being too much for 
their nerves. Thus fell the redoubtable Wereroa pah by 
stratagem and daring : had it been attacked from the &ont, 
the point at which disciplined troops would most probably 
have assailed it, a great loss of life muBt have ensued, 
-without much damage to our sable foes, who always kept 
open a means of retreat. A messenger was then de- 
Bpatohed to Sir George, who with some of the imperial 
foroe was near at hand as a reserve, informing him of the 
result; and early the following morning the imperial 
troops occupied the position, the colonial foroes being re- 
quired for the relief of Pipiriki. The priBonera were 
marched into Wanganui, shipped off to Wellington, and 



60 BEMINISCENCE8 OF THE 

placed by Government on board a faalk which was 
moored about a mile and a half from the shore, ia charge 
of an officer and acme men of the 50th Begiment Here 
they remained until one stormy night, when, taking ad- 
vantage of the wealher and of the officer being on shore, 
they managed to knock ont one of the portholes, tbrongh 
whioh they let themselTes down into the sea. Men, 
women, and children, impelled by a love of liberty, struck 
out boldly for the shore. About sixty of the eighty 
reached it, and finally escaped ^ain into the hush, 
vowing vengeance on the Pok^a, although well tmded 
and well fed. 



BELIEF or FIPIRIKI. 



On the 2lBt, intelligence had been received irom Captain 
Brassey by means of a Maori named Wiari, who for a 
reword of £15 had undertaken to pass through the enemy, 
and convey a letter to Major Rookes. By this it was seen 
that the enemy had attacked in force on the Idth and had 
been beaten off, after which they oontented themselves 
with a blockade and heavy fire ftvm the high hills in 
the neighbourhood. Pipiriki woe at this period garrisoned 
by a force of 200 military settlers and Bush Bangers, who 
had been stationed there after the Maori fight of Ohotohi, to 
prevent the Hauhau's tribes of the Upper river interfering 
with the friendly natives. Pehi Turoa had never forgiven 
this occupation of his territory, and only awuted an 
opportunity to attack the men amongst whom he was living 
on terms of apparent fiiendc^hip. 

This opportunity was given when the greater portion of 
the fighting men of the friendly tribes left for the Weraroa ; 
thus the Hauhaus were certain to have seven or eight days 
to effect the capture of Captain Braasey's force before they 



WAB m NEW ZEALAND. 61 

ooold be reliored. With this view, 600 fighting men of 
Upper Wangauni, Tiiupo, and Kgatiraakawa asBembled to 
attack OBe of the least defensible poels ever held in New 
Zealand. The village of Fipiriki is situated on the right 
bank of the Wanganui river, surrounded by high bills, at 
no point distant more than 600 yards from the river, and 
rising in some cases to a height of 2000 feet Just below 
the village the hills close in on either side upon the river, 
wbiob runs between precipitous cliffs, impossible to pass if 
held by an enemy. In this basin three redonbts bad been 
constrncted ; the main fort was built on low ground 
completely commanded by the bills, and untenable in the 
event of either of the small redoubts being taken by the 
enemy ; the Oundagai fort was about 400 yards from the 
main work, and garrisoned by thiriiy men ; the key of the 
whole station was Popoia, held by the Bush Rai^rs, about 
forty strong. It was the best position obtainable, as it 
was only commanded by hills 500 yards distant, and as 
serviceable traverses had been built in this work, the' 
enemy's fire oould do but little mischief at such a range. 
The weak point in tb6 defence was the Cemetery Hill, 
which rose abruptly to a height of sixty feet above the 
main redoubt, from which it was about 400 yards distant. 
Captain Brassey was not to blame for not having seized 
and fortified this important position ; he had acted under 
advice &om Mr. Booth, K.U., who assured him that it 
would never be occupied, it being saored as an old burial- 
ground. That he was mistaken in his belief is due to the 
&ct that the enemy were not only Maories, but Hauhaus 
also. Another weak point in the defence was, that water 
was only obtainable from a gully midway between the 
main redoubt and Fopoia, when an enterprising enemy 
ooold have out off the supply and forced the garrison to 
run the gauntlet for each bucketfuL It was a knowledge 
of this circnmstance that rendered Sir George Qrey so 
anxious to see the Weraroa foroe fairly on their way to the 
relieC 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



62 RBUINISCENCEB OF THE 

On the 25tlt of July, the Forest Bangera, Wanganni Bneh 
Bangers, and Native Contingent, in all about 300 men, 
embarked on board the Qwviagai steamer, and late that 
evening reached the village of Raorakia ; on the foUo^ng 
morning they continued their journey in canoes, as the 
rapids would not permit a steamer of small power like the 
Qtindagai to ascend Further. That night the men camped 
at Koriniti, and next day arrived at Hiruharama, only 
twelve miles from Pipiriki ; here they remained until the 
29tb, awaiting the arrival of the kupapas, who came that 
evening 500 strong. About midnight Captain McDonnell 
and Kepa, with sixty men, started and took possession of a 
oliff above a dangerons rapid named Te Pupa, about half 
a mile from FipirikL The enemy were reported to be in 
poflsession of this important pass, but the contingent found 
it unoooupiod, and held it unmolested during one uf the 
coldest nights I have ever felt. At grey dawn we prepared 
for a brush, but no signs could be seen of the Hauhaus, 
though we heard afterwards that they saw us and retired. 
As the sun was rising, the warlike canoe song of the Wan- 
ganui could be heard, And in a few moments the river was 
alive with canoes, each one trying to outstrip the other in 
the race fur Pipiriki. Our men had a good start, and ex- 
pected to win easily, but just before we reached the landing- 
plaoe, Haimona with fifty men of Ngatipamoana in a big 
war-canoe passed vs as though we had been standing still. 
The first thing that met our eyes on landing was the dead 
body of a Taupo chief (Mikaera) ; he was lying in a small 
stream, and must have been shot during the first days of 
the fight, for the rats had been hard at work. After the 
usual amount of cheering and congratulation on both sides, 
OUT force followed the retreating enemy to Ohinemntu, 
expecting that they would make a stand in that vilh^e ; 
but they had evidently had enough, and had no intention 
of meeting us in the field, for we found that they had 
taken to their canoes and retreated in the direction of 
Mangaio, whence it was not considered advisable to follow 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 63 

them, aa the ooantrj is so ioAOoeaaible, that the only road 
is by the river between high oliS^ whioh, if occupied by an 
enemy, would efiectually bat progress and annihilate the 
attacking force. 

Six bodies were foand and buried, bnt the Haohane 
admitted having thirteen men killed and many wounded ; 
the Taapo tribe suffered moat. From the accounts given by 
the garridoa, it appeared that the Maori (Wiari) warned 
Capt^iQ Brassey on the I8th that he would be attacked. 
This warniog bad not been slighted, for it had beeu nsoal 
to place a picket of six men over the store-tent at the 
landing-ptaoe, which was some distance from the redoubt ; 
but on the evening of the 18th Capt&in Brassey dismissed 
them, knowing that they oonld be out off to a maa if the 
Hauhans chose to do so. That night all were on the 
alert for the expected attack, but morning broke without 
any alarm, to the satisfaction of those who treated the 
warning as a piece of Maori bounoe. Lieutenant Chapman 
of the Bush Rangers took his usual morning walk in the 
direotion of the picket-tent and came suddenly upon an 
ambush of the enemy, who luckily for him tried to run 
him down and tomahawk him, knowing that a shot fired 
would alarm the whole force. Their attempt was un- 
snccessful, for Chapman was a good runner, and with the 
additional spur of the tomahawk, beat them easily, though 
nearly cut off by another party who were hidden in the 
scrub under the Cemetery Hill. Once the presence of the 
enemy was discovered, all was plain sailing; the alarm 
was sounded, and the men swarmed out of their mess 
whares and manned the parapets. So far the Hauhans had 
only been seen on the southern side of Fipiriki, but soon 
after 300 Hauhans were seen from the Fopoia redoubt 
to march from Ohinemutu; the Bush Bangers con- 
cluded from their appearance that they intended to storm 
the redoubt, they therefore reserved their fire, but were dis- 
gusted to see the HauhauB disappear into a ravine, under 
cover of which they entered a line of new rifle-pits on the 



64 REHnnSCENCEB OF THE 

creBt of a ridge slightly above, and 300 yards distant from 
Fopoia. From this positioa they poared in a heavy and 
continuous fire npon the Bush Rangers, but without doing 
any mischief. Captain Newland, the ofBoer in charge, vronid 
not allow his men to reply indiscriminately, but adopted the 
wise principle of selecting hia beet shots ; three men were 
chosen to answer the enemy, who were thns induced to expose 
themselves. One Hauhau, more excitable than the others, 
sprang on to the breost-work of their rifle-pits to encourage 
hie friends, and was immediately shot dead ; a womao took 
hie plaoe, but did not remain long, for she was severely 
wounded. After this lesson there was not mach dancing 
bravado on the parapets. Meanwhile a small party of the 
HauhauB had crawled nnseen up the cliff and establiehed 
themselves in the Kangiahna village, within thjriy yards 
of Fopoia, and opened such a well-directed fire upon our 
loopholeB, that Captain Kewland found it absolutely 
necessary to dislodge them. He scdlied out with a few 
men and drove the enemy down the cliff without loss, for 
the Hanhans fought wretchedly, hardly etcpping to fire 
the first volley ; the whares were set on fire, and under 
cover of the smoke a strong rifle-pit was oonatmcted, 
which was held throughout the si^e by a fow men. By 
this time themain and Gundagai redoubts were in trouble; 
the party who had chased Mr. Chapman took possession of 
the Cemetery Hill and opened a plunging fire right into 
these redoubts. The tents were riddled in a moment, but 
the men took sheltAr behind the traverses and were safe 
while they remained there ; this, however, oould not last 
long, for cooking, ice, would have to be done, and the oooke 
would have had a very warm time of it. Captain Brassey 
saw that the bill must be taken at all risks, and told off 
Lieutenant Clery and forty men for the assault. This 
small party crossed the few hundred yards of ground 
between tbe two positions at the double ; once at the foot 
of the st«ep hill they were sheltered &om the enemy's 
fire, and paused to take breath. Their ascent through the 

I ,z,;i:, Google 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 65 

thick Bcmb was coTored by a beary fire from tbe Gundagai 
redoubt, Lieutenant Clery kept hiu men ae much ea 
possible in line, and when near the summit called on 
them to charge. As they dashed forward tbe Hauhaus 
fired one ill-directed volley, wounding Clery and one of 
hia men, and then stampeded down the opposite slopo, 
leaving one of their own number dead on the hill. They 
had already begun to dig rifie-pits, and Lieutenant Clery 
completed them, and built a very fair redoubt, which he 
held until the end of the ai^e. Thus the enemy had 
faileij in all their operations, and in two cases had bolted 
beforewecouldtry conclusions with them. After this oheck 
they contented themselveB with occupying the higher 
peaks, and tiring all day, at ranges varying frcxca 500 to 
800 yards, expending large quantities of ammunition 
without the smallest result. Captain Brassey had only 
160 rounds of cartridge per man, and had he allowed 
reckless firing it would probably have been expended on 
the first day; hut better management prevailed, and only 
two men in each redoubt were allowed to fir& The best 
ehota were chosen, and they did their work so well, that 
two of the Hauhaua were shot in a whare on the opposite 
side of the river, 700 yards from the redoubt ; in all they 
had thirteen killed, and our loss was two wounded. 

This wae certainly the most feeble of their attacks; 
had they behaved with their usual vigour. Captain Brassey 
must have suffered aeverely, as each bucket of water 
would have cost a few lives; but as it was they allowed 
the garrisou to get wood and water with impunity, and at 
Bangiahua and the Cemetery Hill they seemed to think 
only of saving themeelves, and hardly waited to fire on us. 

The force remained at Pipiriki until the end of August, 
during which time the village of Pa Poaka, within a mile 
of Mangaio, waa destroyed. A raid npon Taupo was also 
projected, but it did not oomeoff, for on the 19 th of August 
orders were received for the whole force to march on 
Wanganui, en route for Opotiki, there to take vengeance 



66 BEMINKCENCES OF THE 

OD Mr. Volckner's marderers, Pipixiki was handed over 
to llie imperial troops, 'who eetabliahed a line of poeta on 
the river, and kept a small steamer ronning oonstantly 
hackwardfl and forwards with supplies. 



CHAPTER XI. 

THE OPOTIEI EXPEDITION. 

THE LANDIKG. 



The Opotiki or expeditionary foroe, as it was called, was 
composed of two companies of Military Settlers, three 
oompaniea of Bush Rangers, the Native Contingent, and 
Wanganoi Yeoman Cavalry, in all 500 men, under the 
ooinmand of Uajor Brassey. The start from Wanganoi 
was not easily effected on the part of the oontingent, for 
their wives man^tid to get on board the steamer and re- 
fosed to leave, and the men, dismayed at the prospeot of a 
sea voyage, were quite ready to desert, bnt McDonnell's 
firmness and vigilance overcame the difficulty ; the ladies 
were bundled with little ceremony into their canoes, and 
to prevent desertion onr steamer crossed the bar. On 
arrival at Wellington the oontingent, at the instigation of 
Mete Kingi, demanded arrears of pay to date, or they 
would not go to Opotiki. This demand was absurd, for they 
had only fonrteen days' pay due, bnt the Qovemment did 
not consider it advisable to refuse payment, and the Native 
Contingent went on their way rejoicing. On the 7th 
of September the steamers reached Hieko Bay, where 
H.M.S. Brisk and the BwUrea tender were waiting 
to convoy them to Opotiki At dawn on the following 
morning we were off Opotiki, and Major Brassey, with Noe. 
8 and 1 Companies of Taranaki Military Settlers and the 
Fatea Rangers, embarked on board the Bantren, and made 
an attempt to land. The tender crossed the bar safely, 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gIC 



WAB m NEW ZEALAND. A7 

bot found a heavy fireshet in the river, against which she 
was powerleea; a mah was made against the freshet, 
which oarried tbetn same dista&oe up the river, but only 
to be swept back and lodged on a sandspit in the middle 
of the stream, where they could not land, for the tender 
had Qo boats, and there was deep water on either side — 
as the tide receded the little steamer heeled over on her 
side, and in this perilons position, her decks crowded 
with men, she offered the Hanhsus as fair a target as 
they oonld wish ; bnt, fortmiatelj for the foroe, the beach 
offered no cover, and the enemy, not caring to expose 
themselves, fired at such long range that but little 
dam^^ was done. Ensign Northeroft was hit on the 
budkle of his belt, and one of the men had a bullet 
pass between his foot and the sole of his boot. At 
this oncomfortabte juncture an incident occurred 'which 
showed the pitch to which fanaticism might be oarried. 
One of the Hauhaus advanced slowly across the sandflat 
to the edge of the river not fifty yards from the Buniresa, 
and began his Hauhan incantations, waving his hands in 
a mystic manner, after the fashion of a mesmerist ; two 
or three bnllets fired simultaneously put an end to his 
manceuvrea, and he fell mortally vraonded. Our men 
could not reach him, so the rising tide finished what the 
bullets had began. At low water the men managed to 
wade on shore on the opposite side to the village, where 
we will leave them for the present, wet, cold, and hungry, 
with no prospect of relief from their misery for two long 
d^s, for the wind which had been rising all the morning 
was now a perfect hurricane, accompanied with torrents 
of rain. We could do nothing to assist them, and had to 
ran before the gale all night. About noon on the following 
day we managed to anchor under the shelter of Whole 
Island ; some of the men got permission to land, and were 
rather astonished when they jumped cut of the boat to 
find the surf rather more than warm, in fact nearly boiling ; 
they had jnmped into a boiling spring, of which there are 
F 2 



68 BEHINISCENCES OF TEE 

Beverol on this island, it being in the line of volcauio 
action betveen White Island and Tongariro. Next 
morning the sea was sufficiently calm to attempt a landing, 
and by 10 a.m. we were again at anchor off OpotiJd ; the 
Native Contingent were the first corps to land in the boats 
of H.M.S. Brisk. The enemy could be seen swarming 
down the Bandhills of the right bank of the river ready 
to meet us. But the men led by UoDonnell and Buuia Te 
Hakoke soon drove them back, and followed, skirmishing, 
for some miles, killing six of them. Onr casnalties were 
light, consisting of McDonnell's cartridge-box — the bullet 
entered it in front, knocked all bis cartridges to pieces, 
and passed out over his hip unpleasantly near, but without 
wounding him. The force now crossed a branch of the 
Opotiki river, and entered the Opotiki village, probably 
the largest Maori settlement in New Zealand, The con- 
tingent were in their glory examining and looting the 
whares, when Private Hanieta entering a smaU hut was 
astonished to find a Hauhau in possession, sitting calmly 
with his gun across his knees ; for one moment our noble 
savage waeBtartled,but,risingBUperior to the circumstance, 
bo ordered him to come outside and be hung like Yolckner; 
impressive as the invitation waa, the Hauhan declined, so 
Hanieta shot him and set fire to the whore. The next 
morning only a small portion of onr enemy remained. 
That night the force slept in Ur. Yolckner's church ; it 
was bitterly cold, and we bad nothing but sail-cloth to 
cover ub: this is not a wannmaterial; in iact, I have every 
reason to believe that a small portion would preserve ice 
through an Indian summer. The Burroundings might 
also have been happier, but the foroe, satisfied in having 
killed some of Yolckner's murderers, slept the sleep of 
the just. 

Chi the following morning the stores and camp equipage 
were landed and placed in the church, which was hence- 
forth to be the commisBariat store. The European portion 
of the force were told off to pitch camp, and the contingent 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 69 

sent out to forage. With BBoh foragers the force wbb 
Boon supplied with poultry, piga, cattle, horHea, and tons 
of kameraa ; in &at, Opotiki became a reritable FaradiBe 
to the colonial forces. 



CHAPTER Xn. 

THE OPOTIKI EXPBDITIOM — continued. 

TAKQtO OF THE PUA PAH. 

Oh the 14tb the enemy seemed to think it time to stop 
our ravages, and bo tried a sktrmisb : oar men turned ont 
readily, and the Hanbaua fell back on the Pua pah, a small 
furtification built <m a spur cf the main ntoge at the en- 
trance to the Waioeka Qorge. Major McDonnell, who was 
the senior officer present, ordered Lieutenant Gudgeon and 
the advanoed guard cf the Xatiye Contingent to skirmish 
up to the pah, supported by Major Oeoi^ and his rangers ; 
the enemy cpeoed a very heavy fire as the contingent ad- 
vanced at the double, but the eleTalion was too high, and the 
bnlletf) fell among and beyond the support, causing some 
excitable individual to give the order to take cover. The 
rangers, who were obarging at the time, obeyed, thinking 
the order came &um McDonnell, but Major Geot^e who 
yras leading his men did not hear the command, and went 
on followed by about eight men, with which number he 
joined Lieutenant Gudgeon at the outer palisade ; here 
they held their ground for some time expecting reinforce- 
ments, without which they could do nothing, but none 
came, for McDonnell was so disgusted at the mistake made 
by the rangers that he would give no order to advance, 
and ordered the small party under the palisades to retire. 
This would have been rather ticklish work had the Hau- 
hau fire been well directed, for the men ven tolerably 



i.vCoogIc 



70 BEMINiaCENCES OF THE 

Nkfe in the position held by them, bat wonld have to cross 
400 yards of open ground when they l«ft it ; however, it 
was managed safely by leaving one at a time, and the 
force retnmed to Opotiki with very little glory. Onr 
only casaalty was Captain Percy of the Yeoman Cavalry, 
who was severely wounded in the Mp. Up to the let of 
October the men did little but soont and forage, colleotjng 
the ploi^hs, carta, and iarming implements at the different 
villages, and driving in the stock, allowing the Hauhaos 
to ereot a strong pah in the bush-ranges, and olherwifie 
strengthen themselves. 

Major Brassey and his officers did not work well 
t(^ther, and this in a measure prevented the anity of 
action which ensures sncoeea. Major McDonnell, annoyed 
at the want of enterprise shown, asked permission to 
soont the oonntry in the neighbourhood of the Pua pah; 
he was informed that he might do so, but most not take 
more than forty men. With this small foroe he started 
early in the morning, and about 3 p.m. arrived in the 
neighbourhood of the pah: here the men halted to ooUect 
potatoes, and while doing so were fired upon by two of 
the enemy's scouts ; an immediate pursuit was ordered, and 
the scouts followed aoross a flax-swamp. On reaching 
the opposite side a body of forty Banhaus were seen on 
our right front, ialling back towards a pah (Kiorekino) 
which had evidently been only lately built; McDonnell 
allowed them to retire unmolested until they entered the 
pah ; he then extended his men and threw forward the 
flanks until they were in the form of a half-moon, ex- 
plaining to the men that he intended to surround the pah, 
and ordering them to charge as though they intended to 
assault, but to Ibten to his voioe and foil flat when he 
gave the order. The word was given and the contingent 
advanced at the double, the HanhauB, about eighty strong, 
thinking we intended to storm, reserved their fire as 
McDonnell had foreseen, and, when within forty yards, 
just as they were preparing to fire, every man fell flat on- 

L, ,z,;i.,C00gIC 



WAR IX NEW ZEALAND. 71 

the gronnd. ; tbe ooantrj was perfectly open, and there was 
no cover available, the only thing of the eort vna a amall 
tatu-biuh, but this drew the enemy'B fire bo heftvily that 
no one would lie behind it. For about an. hoar the fire 
on both sides waa very severe; any one attempting to 
stand up waa hit almost immediately. Only MoDonnell 
seemed to bear a charmed life, for though he oontiDoally 
walked ronnd hie men he escaped without a wound ; his 
rifle however was lees fortunate, for the stock was shattered 
by a bullet. Tbe Poa pah was situated aboat one thousand 
yards &om Eiorekino, and though men could be seen looking 
on at tbe fight, they for some time made no attempt to 
help their compatriots ; at last a party of about forty men 
were seen descending the hill towards us and our position 
looked dangerons, for it seemed as though we should soon 
be between two fires. Bat just in the niok of time fovtrteen 
men of the Yeoman Cavalry galloped up, and were sent to 
hold the Pna Hauhans is cheek. Our firing had been 
heard in Opotiki, and the fourteen troopers were the ad- 
vance gnard of a larger party coming to oar assiatanoe. 
The cavalry made short work of the forty Hanhans by 
charging and driving them up to the palisades of their 
pah, killing eleven of them, out loss being one man 
wounded and two horses shot. After the charge Sergeant 
Duff brought a boy a prisoner across his horse to 
McDonnell, and said, "Be is only wounded, sir; I have 
brought him to give information." Some thirty-six boms 
after, it was found that this " only wounded " boy had a 
Bword-«iit across hia head, four inches long, through which 
the brain protruded. At leaat a teaspoonfnl was taken 
away by Dr. Walker ; the boy recovered and ia now known 
to the Opotiki residents as Faora Taia. Beinfcroements 
now b^m to arrive, the Fatea and Wanganui Bangera 
under Captain F. Boss were the first to pat in an appear- 
ance, and opened fire with such efiect that the enemy 
waa oompletoly ailenced, and for the first time for two 
hoars our men oonld walk about with impunity within 



72 REMINiaCENCES OP THE 

forty yards of the pah. The Hauhans were afraid to ex- 
pose their heads and shoulders above the rifle-pita, and 
therefore could not fire low eooiigh to hit our men, bat 
one poor fellow of the Patea Bangers lay on his face with 
his gun at his shoulder so long that hia oomrades thought 
he had &l]ea asleep, and went to rouse him. He was in- 
deed sleeping his last sleep, fur a ballet had entered the 
crown of his head, and death must have been instantaneoTis. 
Winiata of the contingent gave ns a specimen of Maori 
daring in the midst of the flght; he suddenly jumped up, 
rushed to the pah, and, re^^ardless of the fire of both friend 
and foe, placed his hand on the palisading, shouting that 
the pah was hia. It was now getting dark, and UcDonnell 
ordered the men to oease fire, and walked ronnd to see 
that the pah was properly invested, and that each 
corps held its own position. Just then No. 8 Company of 
Military Settlers arrived, and brought with them a mys- 
terions and dreadfol weapon (to her friends) known as 
the " Huntress " gun ; the men were ordered to dig rifle-pits 
and get it into position to bear upon the pah, this was 
soon done, and she was loaded to the muzzle with oase- 
shot, old iron, in &ot anything that could be got Our 
quartermaster's peaoe of mind was quite destroyed by the 
amount of old iron fso carefully hoarded) that was re- 
quired to load this gun. MoDonnell's intention was to keep 
guard over the pah all night; and, if it was not sur- 
rendered before morning, to take the place by storm. About 
8 o'olook in the evening a voice was heard from the pah, 
aeking whether McDonnell was present, the major answered 
it himself; the speaker then said that they wished to give 
in, and asked what terms would be given them ; the Major 
answered, " Unconditional surrender ; those men who have 
been implioated in Volokner's murder will be tried, those 
who have not will be simply prisoners of war." Feeling 
as they must, that they were all more or less guilty, the 
reply rather frightened them, and they requested an honr 
to deliberate thereon; this was granted, and hostilities 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 73 

ceased for tbe lime. It is aa old saying that a little 
learning is a dangerous thing, and the truth of it was 
experienced on this occasion ; for one of the junior officers 
anderstanding a little Maori, heard them talking about 
peaoe, and ooacluded that a sort of Hillenium had arriTed, 
so he left his poBt, went up to the pah and shook hands 
most afTectionately with many of the enemy; he even 
allowed them to poll down some of the ptdisadee, so that 
they might oome oat to their Pakeha &iends. It did not 
strike this too confiding officer that the narrow gateway 
of the pah was wide enough to allow them to oome out as 
prisoners, but not wide enough for them to charge out as 
foes. No sooner was the opening finished than they fired 
a ToUey and charged out throngh the breach they had 
made, knocking down the dope of an officer and rushed 
upon some twenty men of the Patea Bangers, who having 
a youthful officer of anything but a confiding dispoeition, 
were busy entrenching their portion of the lines. The 
suddenness of the attaok allowed no time for consideration ; 
carbines, revolvoTs, and spades alike proved useful, and 
although the twenty men were knocked down and trampled 
upon, they bit hard, and. left fifteen of the enemy dead in 
a very email space, while they themselves escaped with a 
few severe wounds. 

The voll^ fired by the enemy created great confusion ; 
on the other side of the pah the cry was raised that 
they were escaping, and the man in chaise of the 
*' Huntress " gun wildly fired it off. Had it been properly 
pointed the chances are that not a man of No. 8 Com- 
pany would have survived the disoharge, as they were 
in the line of fiie on the opposite side of the pah ; bat 
the individual in charge of this murderons weapon was 
finally oonvinoed that an elevation of forty-five d^reea 
was the correct thing for a sixty yards' rai^, so it only 
fiigbtened the company by the infernal screeching of the 
old iron as it flew over their heads, while he himself nearly 
fell a sacrifice to his devotion, as the gun turned a book 

.ogle 



74 BEMDJIBCENCES OF THE 

somersault, scattermg the would-be artillerymen far and 
near. After this unfortunate termination, nothing further 
could he done but camp for the ni^t and wait the attack 
on the Pua pah at dawn next morning. Early on the 
following morning Major Brassey arrived from Opotiki 
and assumed command, llie men were formed in close 
column of oompaniee, a formation admirably adapted for 
wholesale murder, and advanced towards the pah, when 
within about five hundred yards, thoKativeContingent were 
sent forward to attack ; the Hauhaua were seen to oome out 
of the pah and man the rifle-pits, but only as a blind, for 
we found when we entered the pah that they had retreated ; 
thus the Pua pah or pahs (for there were three of them) 
fell into our hands without loss and without gloiy. 



CHAPTER Xin. 

JHE OPOTIKI EXPEDITION — continiied. 

ADVENTURE WITH KEREOPA AND HIS TWELVE APOSTLES. SUR- 
RENDER OF MOKOMOKO AND HAKARAIA. BETURN OF THE 

FORCE TO WANGANUI. 

Thesb operations had great and immediate effeot upon the 
Whakatohea tribe. On the 17th October a portion of the 
Ngatirua Hapu (section) of the tribe came into oamp, and 
aurrendered themselves prisoners, delivering up twenty 
stand of arms ; the i-emainder, numbering 200 of all ages 
and sexes, came in the nest day and were ordered to camp 
close to us in a portion of the old village, where they 
remained peacefully for months. The other large Hapu 
14'gatiira did not surrender for years after. In the after- 
noon of this day, a Maori of the Driwera tribe arrived in 
Opotiki, and reported that the prophet Eereopa and his 
twelve apostles were suiTonnded by the friendly natives 
inland of Whakatohea. Within two hours, UcDonnell 



i.vCoogIc 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 75 

and 150 men were on the maroli in qaeet of his murderer. 
We arrived at the Ohirva Bay shortly after dnsk, and, 
after wading up to oni waists for an hour, foiwd a small 
canoe that wonld carry ten men at a trip. In this craft 
150 men were ferried over, the last load arriving about 
2 A.M. The force started again before daylight, aud to- 
wards nooD reached a pah in the Waimana valley, wheo 
we obtained isfurmatJou that Kereopa and his wife had 
been there the previous day, bis apostles being hidden in 
a gully close at hand. From this it was evident that the 
report of his being surrounded was fake, and probably 
originated in oar guide's imagination. We remained 
here until dark, and then moved on to a village about 
iwo miles nearer to the goige; remained there until 
midnight, and started again, guided by two of the 
villagers. How they found their way over sleep hills 
covered with high fern, and across watoroourses, is a 
mystery, for the night was so dark that the men were 
obliged to hold on to each other's ooat-tails to keep to- 
gether, and some twenty men followed their leader head- 
over-heels into a deep watercourse, when they anathe- 
matized creation in general, and the Hanhaus in par- 
ticular. At grey dawn ne fouad ourselves on the skirts 
of the forest, and soon after heard the Hanhaus at their 
matutinal prayers in the village of Eoingo, where Eereopa 
was supposed to be ; but McDonnell, knowing what awary 
foe be had to deal with, did not believe that Eereopa 
would sleep in a village, and, ascertaining from the gnidoa 
that there were potato-plantations two miles ferther on, he 
left one half of the men under Captain Newland in 
ambniih U> attack the village, while he marched with the 
other half to the plantations, half an hour being allowed 
him to get into position before Newland would attack. 
Things turned out better than such plans geoerally do, 
for as we crossed the river into the scrub bordering the 
plantations, we heard the volley fired by Newland's men, 
and, immediately aft«r, voices in a clearing close to us. 



76 EEMINI8CENCE8 OP THE 

A moment later, the advaiiced gn&rd came suddenly upon 
Keroopa and hia twelve apostloB. Our men fired, but 
being in Indian file on a narrow bash-track, only two or 
three conld deliver their fire with effect. Two of the 
enemy fell, and Eereopa with the other apostles bolted 
with great celerity, but were followed so closely that they 
threw away their guns. Three more were killed on the 
river-banlt before they reached the scrub, and there was 
every prospect of exterminating the remainder, when at 
this critical moment the main body sixty strong arrived on 
the river-bed immediately below the pursuit on the hill- 
side, and seeing the waving of the fern and scrub and 
hearing oooaaional shots, concluded that it must be the 
HaehauB, whereupon they opened snch a fire npon their 
friends that the advance guard were forced to take cover, 
and remain quiet. McDonnell, who immediately took in 
the situation, alternately swore and entreated, but in vain, 
for the men conld not be stopped until the enemy had 
escsped. It is strai^ but tme that men who would not 
hesitate to &oe a heavy fire from an enemy, will quail at 
once under a fire from their oomrades. Mrs. Eereopa had 
a very narrow esoape. She was engaged in cooking that 
Maori delicacy, stinking com, and in her native garb was 
taken for a man and fired at, bnt, luckily for her, she 
sncoeeded in reaching the bush. One remarkably fine 
specimen of the apostles was found lying on the cliff above 
the river, terribly wounded. The man who found him 
called to McDonnell, informinghim of the fact; the major, 
thinking the man was dead, said, "Throw him into the 
river," and over he went into twenty feet of water. To 
the astonishment of all, the shock revived him, and he 
succeeded in swimming to the shore. The poor wretch's 
jaw was shattered, and he could not speak, bnt wrote his 
name Mid tribe in a pocket-book. This finished the chase 
^ter Eereopa. The force returned to Eoingo, where they 
found Captain Newland in possession ; he had killed three 
men and taken some prisoners, among them a man who 

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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 77 

was shot right through the ohest. I Tectnie to say that 
few EuropeaoB would have TecoTered from this wound, yet 
this man walked three or four miles in a jaunty careless 
manner, evidently very little pat out. On retnniing to the 
village that we had started from the previous night, we 
found our old doctor had shot a oow, and had a Urge 
portion of it in the iamily three-legged pot of the village. 
My Tcaders may judge how aooeptable it was when they 
1 earn that we had only received two hisouitB per man since 
leaving Opotiki two days befbre. On ilie following morning 
we started again for Opotiki, and reaiohed it about 4 p.u. ; one 
of the emarteet marches the forces have ever accomplished. 
These raids so alarmed the Hanhaus that they came ia 
and sairendered in great numbers ; even the chief Moko- 
moko (afterwards hung for Volokner's murder) and thirty 
fighting men surrendered. The chief was almost im- 
mediately arrested, tc^other with Hakaraia, and a man 
named Te Uhi, who was accused of oomplioity in the 
murder of Mr. Folloou, but the char^ fell through in his 
case, and it was proved that his tribe had actually accnsed 
him, hoping that we should dispose of him in a summary 
manner ; not because he was guilty, but becaose he was 
Kuppoacd to have been a great wizai^, and his tribe lived 
in deadly fear lest he should bewitdi them. This dread 
extended to the Wangauuis, for not one of the contingent 
would go into the whare to arrest him, and I had to warn 
him specially not to look at the men, for if be did so they 
were determined to shoot him. By this time our prisoners 
'were so numerous, that twenty men mounted guard day 
and night over those accused of complicity in Volckner's 
murder ; and on the Ist November they were still further 
increased by the arrival of Major Mair, and thirty of 
Fulloon's murderers, who had been captured at the Teko 
by the major and his Arawas, after nearly two months' 
skirmiahing among the swamps and islands of Te Matata. 
Ho time was lost in oonveuing a court-martial for their 
triaL ProceedingB commenced on the 6th, and eighteen 

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78 REMINISCENCES OF THE 

of tliem were identified by two young balf-cafites (White 
and Campbell), as having been among the party that 
mnrdered Ur. Fulloon and the crew of the Kale, The 
majority were condemned to death. But after all the 
trouble it was found that somebody had not power to do 
something or other, therefore the court was illegal, and the 
prisoners were sent to Auckland, to be again tried at the 
Supreme Conrt, I have before mentioned that the Ngatiira 
tribe still held aloof and refused to surrender; parties were 
oooasionally seen hovering about the mouth of the Waireta 
gorge. Our commanders decided to beat up their quarters, 
and, if possible, capture them. With this view McDonnell 
and 200 men started at midnight, and before daybreak were 
well within the gorge, marching up the stony bed of the 
river, oroeeing and recroasing perpetually until noon, when, 
as they were exhausted, a halt was called. Traces of the 
enemy had been found throughout the march, but none of 
them seen. Su tired were the men, that in ten minut«s 
every soul was asleep among the boulden, in more or lees 
uncomfortable positions, careless of Hauhaus or anything 
else. I can imagine the horror with which this will be 
read by strict military men, devotees at the shrine of pipe- 
olay and red tape, but our men were so good in those days, 
that panics were unknown, and a volley fired into them 
would simply have brought them charging down upon 
their foes. In lat«r and more d^enerate times they learnt 
how to poet sentries, and lost the knack of chaining dead 
upon an enemy, substituting cover-hunting and firing. 
Both systems have their merits, no doubt. I do not intend 
to deny either, but I think the former told best on the 
Maoriea. 

For about an hour the force slept soundly, then they were 
roused and ordered to return to Opodki. As usual, the 
men bad brought no food with them (they were rather 
given to trusting in Providence, and were generallj' 
hungry), therefore it was impossible to proceed. This 
yna most unfortunate, for a few miles farther would have 



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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 79 

brought as to the Tillage, but we did not know tfaie at the 
time. It had taken eleven honrB to maroh np, and it 
would probably take ten to walk down, so no time was to 
be lost, and the return march oommenced, bat not bo 
happily as mi^t have been expeoted, for the eleven hours 
through water and over boulders had been too much for 
regulation boots, and the soles began to drop behind, 
leaving the men, with blistered and bleeding feet, to 
struggle on after their more fortunate comrades. At dusk, 
we reaohed the mouth of the goi^, and bj 10 p.u. the 
main body arrived in Opotiki, after twenty-one hours' 
moroh over some of the worst country in New Zealand. 
After this march nothing of importanoe took place until 
the 17th of November, when the steamer Stombird arrived 
with orders for the contingent to return to Wanganui, 
and join l^e force under General Chute, in the ooming 
campaign on the west coast. McDonnell issued orders for 
the men to prepare for embarkation, but ordered them not 
to attempt to oross the bar in canoes. This prohibition 
was particularly hard upon the Wongonui, for they had 
accumulated quantities of loot, and were tolerably certain 
that room would not be found for it all in the boats. 
Under these circumstances they promptly disobeyed. Two 
canoes, heavily laden, attempted to cross the t»r, and, as 
MoDonnell had foreseen, were capsized and lost everything 
except themselves. Maories are not bom to be drowned, 
unless they wish it ; only one man was drowned, and he 
did wish it. It was tiie prophet Pitan, who unfortunately 
hod prophesied his own death. The oraole spoke as 
follows ; — " Yon will be sucoessfal in all things, 
Wanganui : only one man will die, and that will be Fitan." 
Now this was rough on the prophet. At Kiorekino he 
sought death, and found it not: his character was at stake; 
it really appeared as though he would be found out ; but 
here was a chance not to be lost — rather death than lose 
hia &me as a prophet, so out of pure oantankeronanees he 
threw up his aims and died. I doubt whether that oft- 



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80 . EEMINISCENCE8 OF THE 

quoted Bouian soldier at Pompeii deserves more credit 
than Pitaa, He -was much regretted by his tribe, for 
the WoDgauui are not great in prophets; in fact, some of 
the young men have beeD beard to scoff at prophecy, but 
they were degenerate, and there were no old warriors 
present to wither them with their scorn. All went well 
during the trip, until the steamer arrived in Wellington, 
but while lying at the wharf, the demon of mischief 
persuaded the mate to show the warriors that he also knew 
the use of powder and shot. So he loaded a small oannon 
and put fire to the touch-hole ; but finding that it would 
not go o£F^ he, with several Maori friends, went to the 
muzzle to find the leason. Suddenly it exploded, and 
severely wounded the mate and two Maoriee. This wa« a 
dreadful aitua (ill omen) which nothing but a two-days' 
spree in Wellington could rectify. Unfortunately for this 
idea, UcDonnell came on board with orders to start at once 
for Wanganni, and the captain prepared to put to sea. 
The anchor was being weighed, and the otBcers went to 
their tea. Suddenly there was an awful hubbub ; all ran 
on deck and found that some of the contingent had t^cn 
the capstan, declaring the steamer should not go. The 
ringleaders were dancing the war-dance, and brandishing 
their guns in a manner truly terrific to those who did nut 
know tbem. A few momeuls changed the face of affairs. 
Lieutenant Wirihana seized the chief man and lifted him, 
despite hia struggles, over the bulwarks, with the intention 
of throwing him overboard, and he was only prevented by 
the united strength of a duzen of the man's relations. 
Finally, the ringleaders were tied hand and foot, and 
peaoe restored; but on arrival at Wanganni the whole 
thing broke oot again, and it was then found that General 
Hete Eii^ was the instigator of this row, as be bad been of 
all others throughout the campaign. If it were possible to 
have the Maories without their chiefe they would be most 
valuable allies. But O that mine enemy commanded a 
Maori contingent containing four Mete Kingis! These 

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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 



.remarks do not apply to U»jor Eepa or Wiriltana, for the 
former is probably the best Maori offioer in New Zeuland, 
and the latter always ready to take the right side. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



THE BAST COAST EXPEDITION. 

WAIAPU. ATTACK ON PAKAIROMIROMI PAH. 

Pataba finding that Eereopa had left for Poverty Bay, 
followed cloeely on his footsteps, with the hope nf pre- 
venting further strocities. On his arrival at Taureka 
he found that Eereopa had been well received by the 
Aitauga-a-Mabaki tribe, nearly the wh'jle of whom had 
submitted to the power of his god, and were ready to do 
his bidding. Patara, who was really aveiKe to violent 
deeds, at once opposed Eereopa, and denounced the murder 
of which he had been guilty. This action bad considerable 
efiect npoD the Poverty Bay tribes, and probably saved 
Bishop Williams and his family from violence, if not death ; 
but it did not moderate thefeelingsof tlieHanhans against 
the Pakehas as a body, or render them less determined to 
drive the intrnders into the sea if possible. 

After thus throwing oil upon the troubled waters, 
Fatara left for the Bay of Plenty, tiiking with him bis band 
of Taranakis ; but Eereopa remained to work out the de- 
stmotion of the tribes whom he pretended to aesist. His 
doings will. be related on another page ; at present it will 
be snfficient to narrate the troubles that followed the 
teachings of the more peacefully disposed Patara. This 
prophet, after leaving Poverty Bay, travelled round the 
East Cape, converting the Hicks Bay, Kawakawa, and 
Waiapu Kgatiporon. The majority joined readily enough, 
but there were notable exceptious— viz., Rapata and his 
tribe Te Aowera, Mokena Eohere and his people, and 



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82 BEMIN1SCENCE8 OF THE 

Hotene Puroarangi, the then leading chief. These men 
stood firmly by tbe Government, and determined to try 
conoluaions with their fanatical relatirea. Ngatiporou as 
A tribe had always been inimical to the Pakeha, and strong 
supporters of the Miiori king. This diBpositiun will 
prubably acoount for their turbulent behaviour towar<]H 
those ohiefa who refused to acknowledge the power of Pai 
Harire. Their iKhavioor was such that Hotene and 
Mokeno, with the faithful portion of their people, retired to 
the Uatepe ptih, near the Waiapu beach, aud wrote to Sir 
Donuld, ^en Mr. McLean.atikingforguns. Theywereim- 
mediately supplied, and in all probability this prompt 
aciicn saved the country half a million of money, for had 
not the arms and ammunition been sent at onoe, Rapata 
and Mokeua would have been destioyed or forced to join 
the Hanhaus; Henare Fotae would have followed, and 
the Government would have had 2000 fighting men of 
Ngatiporou, Poverty Bay, and Te Wairoa against them, 
without any adequate force to resiet them. The sigui- 
ficance of 20O0 fighting men will perhaps be hardly 
understood unless it is known that General Cameroo never 
met more than one-third of this number in his Waikato 
campaign, aud General Chute never met one-fifth. Lest my 
L-stimate of these tribes i^lionld be considered exaggerated, 
I may state that Ngatiporou can bring 900 fighting men 
into ihe field at the present time, and previous to 1866 tbe 
Poverty Bay and VVairoa tribes were most numerous. 

The loyal chief Henare Potae of Tukomara was also 
threatened by the Hauhaus of his tribe and retired to Te 
Mawhai, an almost impregnable stronghold on the sea 
coast, where, ho awaited the further movements of the 
Hauhaus. Thus there were 800 Hauhaus and 4O0 tjueen's 
natives ready for action. In June, 1865, hostilities were 
not loug delayed, for on the 10th of the mouth, Hapata and 
forty of hia Aowera started to uscertaiu the enemy's 
intentions. When near Fnkemaire he was fired upon, and 
not withstanding his want of firearms (he had only bcven 

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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 83 

fowling'piecee aod one rifle) he engaged the HauhaiM at 
Mangaone and drove them back to their pah ; the enemy's 
lo«» was not ascertained, but Te Aowera lost six killed and 
three wounded. 

Bapata now saw that fighting was really meant, so he 
strengthened his pah against surprises and again sallied 
out ; he fought his relations at Tiketike with much the 
same result as on the former occasion, for the enemy, better 
armed, inSicted a loss of nine men on Te Aowera, but were 
nevertheless driven back, leaving three dead. Rapata 
finding that hie men, however brave, were unable to cope 
with the well-armed Hauhaus, remained quiet for a few 
weeks; the result was that the Hauhaus grew brave and 
attacked him at Te Horo, and Kapata, by a clever piece of . 
strategy (for a Maori), gained He peoples' confidence for 
ever. Finding the Hauhaus too strong for him, be ordered 
his men to retire in seeming disorder to a creek some 
distance in rear, where a portion of them would lay an 
ambuscade while the others continued their flight; the 
order was well oturied cut, a few old mats being thrown 
away to make it look still more like a stampede. The 
enemy, deceived, followed closely, delighted with their 
success, and received a volley from the ambush which 
threw them into confusion. Maori -like they bolted, 
leaving five behind them. Nothing of interest occurred 
nutil August in the same year, when Mr. McLean's re- 
preeentations to the Government, brought Captains Fraser 
and Biggs to the scene of action with 100 Europeans ; this 
sounded the death-knell of tbe Hauhaus. The first position 
attacked was Fakaiomiromi. The p^h was not a strong one, 
nor the palisading high, yet it was well built ; but our men 
stormed it at grey dawn, and before the garrison had time 
to arm the place was taken. Twenty-five of the Hauhaus 
lay dead in and around the pah ; our loss w^sone Earopean 
killed and one sevemly wounded by a tomahawk as he 
scaled tbe palisades. He was lucky in getting off with un 
ugly gash, for a long-handled tomahawk is an awkward 
G 2 



84 BEMINISCENCES OP THE 

weapon. About the same day Mokena had a skirmiBh 
near Te Hatepe, in which he captured two men and 
wounded two or three otherB. 

Shorty after these eventa, intelligence was brought tbat 
the Hauiti and Whanauarua Hanhans had taken up a strong 
position at I'ukepapa, a few miles inland of Tokomani. 
Rapata with 100 men started at once and joined Henare 
I'otae, who invested the place. After considerable skirmish- 
ing with small loss, themajority of the enemy surrendered, 
the remainder escaping to Pukemaire. In the encounter 
three of the Hanhaus were killed and many wounded ; 
among the prisoners taken were eleven of the Aowera, 
Rapata's own tribe, and he gave them a lesson in paternal 
rule that other chiefs might follow with benefit to their 
tribes. CallinR them out, he briefly told them that they 
weie about to die, and said, " I do not kill jou because you 
have fought against me, but because I told you not to join 
the Hanhaus, and you have disobeyed me," so saying, he 
(■hot them one by one with his revolver. This afiair well 
finished, the two chiefs advanced upon another Hauhau 
position, Tahutahupo. On the 18lh of August they came 
up with the enemy, and the Hauhans retreated to the edge 
of a large swamp. Here they made a stand, and a sharp 
sktimish eusaed ; twelve Hauhans and one of Henare's men 
were killed ; Rapata himself chased one of theui into the 
swamp and shot hint with great satiafactiou; the enemy 
scattered in every direction and succeeded in &>:caping. 
Two of the retreating Hauhaus fell in with one of Henare's 
men ; he had not taken part in the fight, but was carrying 
important despatches from Tologa Bay to Rapata; he was 
made a priRoner and threatened with instant death, but 
our friend remoostrated with his oaptore and played his 
pnrt RO well, assuring them that he was a genuine Hauliau 
in disguise, that they finally agreed to take him befoie 
Patara, who would pronounce sentence upon him. Whilo 
on the road. Hare, a powerful man, noticed that the double- 
barrelled fowliug-pieceof one of his captors was loaded and 



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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 85 

capped. Watcbing his opportunity he Biiddeiil; wrested 
it from him and ahot hia raoipanion; the other, noarnied, 
was now at hia meroj, and was soon disposed of. Hare 
Mowhata achieved greatness. The main body of the 
retreating Hanhans were naturally anxions to avenge their 
defeats ; casting abont for some place to attack, it suddenly 
occurred to them that Te Uawhai must be undefended 
sitice Henare was with Bapata. Here was a chance for safe 
butchery of women and children. Forty Hauhans started 
at once, and at grey dawn scaled the clifis surrounding 
the pah ; fortunately they were seen by a w(xnan, who gave 
the alarm in time. There were but four men in the pah, 
but the women were equal to the oooasion, and made such 
a vigorous defence that the enemy retreated to Poverty 
Bay, leaving ten of their number dead behind them ; three 
of the defenders were wounded, and a European named 
Enderson, who, Fakeha-like, would not take cover, was 
killed. This man's half-caste son had been barbarously 
murdered a few days before by the infamous half-caste 
Em Peka, who is said to have murdered Mrs. Biggs at the 
Poverty Bay massacre. Enderson and another half-caste 
named Byland had been sent out to look for horses ; they 
were met on the road by Peka, who suspected that 
Enderson had been given some percussion-caps to carry to 
his people. He demanded them irom the boy, who denied 
having any, and at the same time dropped them behind 
him and dug them into the sand with his heel; Peka 
unfortunately saw the action, and seizing hold of him beat 
his brains out with a stone. The other boy, frantic with 
tenor, ran for protection to the Hauhau pah, and found a 
good Samaritan in the shape of an old woman, who hid 
him until there was a chance of escape. The force had 
now much more serious work before them than they had 
hitherto undertaken, for the Kgatiporou Hauhaus had 
fortified tlie Pukemaire Hill, one of the best positions in the 
country, situated about three miles from Waiapu. The posi- 
tion was a high terraced hill crowned by two diamond-shaped 



86 BEMINISCENCES OF THE 

pahfl oonneotod by a covered way; the whole work was in 
the best style of Maori fortification, and waa garrisoiied by 
600 fighting men. This formidable position waa now 
besieged by the Europeans tinder Captains Fraser and 
Biggs, and the Maories under Bapata ; &t daylight in the 
morning the men advanced, skirmishing np tbe hill, taking 
advantage of all available cover until they were near 
enough to open a flying sap. The day was wet and 
bitterly cold, but tlie men worked bard to establish them- 
selves firmly in their trenches ; it was not until late in the 
afternoon that the Aowera Bap was sufBciently near to 
commence operations, then a rather celebrated character 
(Hemi Tapeka) threw a rope with a strong bar attached to 
it over the palisades, but it was immediately cut by the 
HaiihauB. It waa again thrown over, this time by Watene 
Keitua, and again a Hauhau rushed forward to cut it, but 
he was shot in the act by Watene ; and before another 
Hauhan could snmmon courage to attempt this dangerous 
dntj', the united strength of the Aowera and Tuparoa men 
had torn down a whole line of palisades and made such a 
formidable breach in tbe outworks, that the remainder ap- 
peared easy enough. Yet it was not to be, for instead of 
following np the succevs already achieved, Major Fraser 
suddenly ordered the whole force to retnm to Waiapu and 
the chance was lost. Another hour and the pah would have 
been taken : so thuroughly cowed were the Hauhaiis by 
the success of the besiegers, that they were actually 
deserting the pah when the order to retire was given, and 
did not resume possession when the Government forces 
were withdrawn, but retired by the Fakiaka upon Hnng- 
ahungataroa. In this affair nine Hanhaus were killed, 
including the Taranaki chief Te Whiwhini, and our lose 
was two killed and seven wounded, exclusive of a man of 
Major Fraser's company who died of exhaustion on the 
ri>ad home. So cold was it, that Rapata, who had entered 
the pah after the breach had been made, was unable to put 
a cap upon his gun to kill a Hauhau who had fired at him. 

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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 87 

It liaTing beon ascertained! that the enemy were in force 
at Hangahungataroa, do time waa lout ia attacking them. 
Late ID the month of September the force marched in two 
oolnmna ; one nnder Major Bigga and Rapatu advanoed np 
the creek leading to the position, while the other oolnmn 
under Major Fraser, whioh was intended to oo-operate by 
'way of the Kawa Kawa, for some nnexplained reason, did 
not oome into action. Biggs and Rapata advanced up 
the stream, crossing and recro»<ing nntil they arrived at 
the base of the hill upon which the pah stood. The Hanhaos 
were evidently nnoonBcioue of their preeeuoe, or they would 
have defended the gorge-like approach to their stronghold. 
Bapata and nine of his immediate relations led the way as 
advanced gnard, and when abont half-way up the hill oame 
across a Hanhau in a potato-plantation ; he was immediately 
shot. The report brought up Biggs and eleven of his 
volunteers, who started with Itapata to reconnoitre the 
position. It was found to be stronger than they had 
anticipated, and it was finally decided that Bapata and 
Bi^s should scale the cliff in rear of the position, while 
the main body held the slope in front, and engaged the 
enemy's attention by a false attack. This was a dangerous 
and desperate attempt to dislodge the enemy, bnt it was 
the only way to command success, and Biggs and Bapata 
were nut the men to allow mere danger or difficulties to 
intervene. The Maories, bootless and tronserleas, went up 
the cliff with tolerable ease, but the Pakehas, encumbered 
by civilisation, laboured behind. Just after reaching the 
top, Natene, a relation of Bapata, observed a man among 
the trees and pointed him out to the chief, who oalled on 
hia men to fire, whioh they did, but without effect ; the man, 
however, finding escape impossible, shouted to them not to 
fire lest they should hit him. Bapata, amused at this naive 
request, inquired who he was ; the man replied, " It is me." 
" Yea," said the chief^ " I know, bnt I want to see your 
face ; I shall then know yon better." The man approached 
and was recognised as Fita Tamaturi, a chief of the 

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86 BEHINISCENCES OF THE 

Aitanga-a-lfaliaki, a man Tery objectionable to tbe Govern- 
ment. A NgatipoTOU, Bapata, took him by tbe wrist to lead 
him away, bat found he oould not bold him. Pita being & 
veritable giant for strength and size ; he wu, however, 
diitarmed by Natene's help, and Bapata would have ehot 
him had not Biggs arrived at the moment and a-ked," Who 
is the man?" " Pita Tamaturi," said Bapata, "the man 
who brought all this trouble on Ngatiporon ; it was he 
who brought the Hauhan religion here." On hearing this, 
Biggs drew his revolver and ended further argument by 
shooting the prisoner dead. Our small party now took 
poBsession of a small hilliick immediately in rear of and 
above the pah, from whence they oonid gre right into the 
plafie. The first volley caused considerable commotion 
among the enemy, so much so, that the Ngatiporou Haubaus 
tried to hoist a white flag while the Taranaki men tried 
equally hard to prevent it, but without success, for the 
others eawthefutility of resistance, the pah being completely 
commanded. Terms were granted them by Bapata, who 
called them out of the pah Hapu (sub-tribe), after Hapu of 
Ngatiporou, when they laid down their arms and sur- 
rendei-ed to the gallant twenty. Meanwhile the men 
from Taranaki, Ngatiawa, Waikato, and Te Whakatohea 
who were in the pah begau to get uneasy at their tribes 
not being called out, and one old man remarked, " If we 
remain here, our bodies will soon form tbe ashes of this 
pah." He was right in hisjudgment, for Biggs and Bapata 
fully intended to sacrifice them all ; but they, now fully 
alive to the fact, dashed out of the pah as desperate men 
will do, and sliding over the preoipitouB cliff, most of 
them escaped. Only twelve Hanhans were killed in this 
engt^ement, but over 500 were taken prisoners; our loss 
was two friendly natives killed. This fight completely 
crushed the Ngatiporou Hanhaus and ended the rebellion 
of the Waiapu tribes. 



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[ NEW ZEALAND. 



CHAPTER XV. 
E.\ST COAST BKPEDinoN — Continued. 
POVEBTT BAY. 
Bapata Wah.waha had from the first taken s leading part 
in thene engagements, bat he was not a great chief by 
descent, nor was he at that time tmppoeed to be a man 
of intellect ; bat from the first fight at Mangaone, his 
indomitable conrage and energy, and more latterly his 
oratory and address, made him the first man in his power- 
fal tribe, and raised him from his original positioa of sab- 
cbief uf Xgatireha and Te Aowera. Hostilities had hardly 
ceased at VVaiapu, vrhen Major Fraser received orders to 
march upon Poverty Bay, where Eereopa's converts showed 
signs of an approaching outbreak. This district, unqnes- 
tionably one of the finest in New Zealand, was at this 
period inhabited by a nnmerons and industrions Maori 
population, belonging to the three tribes of Bongowhakaata, 
Te Aitaiiga-a-Mahaki, and Ngaitahnpo, the latter a branch 
of the Napier tribes, under the able direction of the 
Bishop of Waiapn. The whole country had become one 
vast orchard, and, at the present time, the frnit exported 
from thence is grown exclusively on trees planted by the 
Maories. Lai^ herds of cattle and horses were to be 
found everywhere on the well-grassed plains, and the 
export of wheat was lai^er than that of any other Maori 
port, not even excepting Opotiki. 

The weak point in their social life was, and is contained 
in the people's proverb, " Tnianga tangatari te" (In Tnianga, 
all men are equal). This republican feeling rendered 
them peculiarly liable to receive and retiun dangerous 
ideas, such as Hanhanism; for the majority, uninfiaenced 
by the old men and chiefs, would be tolerably certain to 



90 BEMmiBCENCES OF THE 

join any society in wluch rapiiie and mnrder were th« 
leading prill ci plea. 

In March, 1868, Eereopa made his first appearance in 
the bay, and bis advent oanaed the greatest excitement 
among the bishop's people at Waerenga-a-Hika ; nearly 
fiOO of them ru^ed to arms, and insiated upon proceed- 
ing to the village of Tanreka, where Kereopa was, an- 
nouncing their intention of either expelling him ttom 
the district, or handing him over to the Fakehas as a 
murderer. Bishop Williams evidently did not place mncb 
reliance on tbeae valiant words; he feared the effect of 
the prophet's influence on the fickle Maori mind, and 
determined to accompany them. Hia men remonstrated, 
but to no purpose, for his lordship was firm. When 
they arrived at the villt^ of Taureka, Kereopa was 
surrounded by the people of the place, who had evi- 
dently fallen under his influence ; this was so patent 
to the bishop's party, that they forggt all about the ex- 
pelling and capturing, and contented themselves with 
sitting quietly down and speechifying. The usual amount 
of talk ensued, and the result was that these rabid ohuroh- 
men welcomed the murderer by rubbing noaes with him, 
This conoluded, Kereopa walked up and offered his hand 
to the bishop, who refiised it. Kereopa demanded the 
reason, and hla lordship replied, " I see blood dripping 
irom your fingers." This was a sufficient answer ; the 
prophet walked off somewhat crestfallen, and the bishop, 
seeing that a large majority of his people would join the 
new religion, left them and returned to hia own home. 
Things now went rapidly from bad to worse, Kereopa 
openly urging the murder of the bishop ; but the tribes had 
hardly reached the pitch of fanaticism which was neoeseaty 
before they could kill a man from whom they had received 
nothing but kindness, and the faithful few, under their 
old chief and catechist Wi Haronga, mounted guard every 
night at Waerenga-a-Hika, determined not to &11 victims 
&om want of precaution. By this time the GovemmMit 



WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 91 

had received informatiriD as to the state of affairs in tlie 
bay, and fearing tbat the Kev. Ur. Volckner'a fat« might 
overtake the bishop, despatched a steameT to bring him 
and hie family to Napier. His lordship handed his pro- 
perty over to the old cateohist and left. Scarcely had they 
reached the steamer, vrhea Kereopa and his converts 
arrived to loot and hum his house, as they had already 
done Archdeacon Williams'; bnt old Haronga.tnie ae steel, 
coolly seated himself on a pile of valuables inside the bonse 
and declared that nothing should move him. His extreme 
obetin&cy of disposition was so well known, that the bouse 
was not burnt, and old Haronga managed to save and bury 
the most valuable property until the bishop could return. 

Hr. McLean lost no time in representing to the Govern- 
ment the necessity of cmshing this outburst of Hauhauism, 
before it could spread to To Wairoa and Napier. His re- 
commendations were approved, and H.U.S. Bride arrived 
soon after, having on board the Defence Poroe, and a de- 
tachment of military settlers under Lieutenant Wilson. 
At the same time, Uajors Biggs and Fraser were ordered 
to march on Poverty Bay, and operate vigorously against 
the common enemy. In November the Waiapu force 
arrived, as also the famous Ngatiporou chiefs, Rapata and 
Mokena,withabontoQe hundred and fifty of their men. Mr. 
McLean visited the bay officially, and sent for the chiefs of 
the Hauhan party. The great man Raharuhi Rukupo and 
oneortwootJters of note came at his summons; Mr. McLean 
remonstrated with them, pointed out the trouble they 
would bring upon their people and land, and finally gave 
them three days to come in and snrrender their arms, promis- 
ing to withdraw bis forces if they did so ; if not, he would 
deliver them over to the tender mercies of Bi^s and 
Bapata. Baharuhi and the other chiefs distinctly refused 
these terms, and took the opportunity to insult Mokens, 
thereby narrowly escaping death, for had it not been for a 
guard of Suropenns, who closed round them and walked 
them out of danger, Ngatiporou would infallibly have shot 



92 REMINIBCGNCEB OF THE 

them. Hr. McLean waited the three days, and as the 
Hauhans did not make their appearance, he banded over 
the conduct of fntnre operations to Major Fraaer and left 
for Napier. 

Theenemyat tbia time held three Teiyfltrong pahs, viz., 
Waerenga-a-Hika, Fnkeamionga, and Eohanga Earearea. 
At fir^t it was intended to attack the second of these pahs, 
and the foroe marched in tliat dirootion ; but observing 
that a strong reinforcement of tbe enemy were marching 
from Waerenga-a-Hika to assist the threatened pah. Major 
Fraaer halted for the night, and on the following morning 
Btcle a march upon them, by appearing suddenly before 
the latter place. As cm men approached the scene of 
action, the Hanhaus could be seen watching them from 
the top of the bishop's bouse, which was only 300 yards 
from their stronghold ; our skirmishers soon drove them 
back to their pah, when they hoisted the flag Riki (god 
of war), and went through their karakia (incantations). 
The foroe immediately took possession of the bishop's 
house, and a select body of marksmen ascended the roof, 
and under cover of the chimneys did great execution 
during the seven days' siege. The disposition of the 
various corpH was simple but effective. The military settlers 
aud Defence Force took possession of a thorn hedge which 
commanded two faces of the pah, at a distance of from two 
to three hundred yards, and rifle-pitted it ; on tbe other 
side of the pah the sloping banks of a lagoon offered cover, 
and was held by Captain Westrup and his Foreet Rangers. 
Tbe native allies under their several chiefs bad no par- 
ticular etation assigned them, but were mixed up with the 
Europeans. The enemy were estimated at 500 fighting 
men, and held a strong position, whereas our force was 
muoh lees, numbering only 110 Europeans and 250 Maoriee, 
but this inequality was in great measure balanced by the 
inferiority of the Hauhau weapons. For the first three 
days both sides contented themselves vrith heavy and con- 
tinuous firing, whioh did little harm on either side ; but 

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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 93 

as it wafl evident that the pah would not 'he taken by these 
meauH, Lieatenant Wilson, with thirty military settlers, 
were ordered on the morning of the fourth day to take np a 
position on the northern face of the pah, where the ground 
waa favourable for mining operations, drive forward a 
flying sap aufficienlly near to allow a rope to be thrown 
over the palisades, when the united utrength of the detach- 
ment would be used to pull it down, and thus form a 
breach for the storming party, who were to be warned by 
preconcerted bugle calls when this was done. By evening 
the sap was close to the pah, and all nppeared to be going 
wall, when suddeDly the main body at the bishop's honee 
were startled by bearing the alarm and double sounded, 
and the next moment Lientenant Wilson and his men 
were seen mnning across the face of the pah in confusion, 
closely followed by a sortie of the enemy. The stampede 
was canned by a strong reinforcement which had arrived 
&om Fukeamionga, and while attempting to enter the 
pah, had fallen on Wilson's rear ; they were first noticed 
by two friendly natives who were with Wilson, and they 
fibouted,"TheHauhauB! The HaubaiisI" at the top of their 
lungs. For a moment Lieutenant Wilson was staggered, 
but seeing that no time waa to be lost — for the new 
arrivals had opened fire on him, and the garrison of the 
pah had sallied oat to cut him off^he gave the order to 
fix bayonets and charge, and dashed across the face of the 
pah, exposed to a heavy fire, and closely pnrt>ued. It was 
running the gauntlet with a vengeance, hut it was their 
only chance ; the loss was heavy, six men were killed and 
five wounded, rather more than a third of the detach- 
ment. Sergeant Doonan, who was slightly wounded, was 
overtaken and speared to death, but the remainder, covered 
by the heavy fire of their comrades at the thorn hedge, 
made their escape ; the wounded were brought off, but 
the dead lay too near the pah to attempt it, and the 
Hauhaus were seen stripping them. ' 

As might be expected, the enemy were greatly elated 



94 EEMINI8CENCES OP THE 

with their Bucceas, and the prophete became more oracular 
than ever, prophesying that if an attaint were made on ihe 
morrow (Sunday), it would be certain to ancoeed, ae the 
Fakehas would all be at their devotions. Fortunately, 
the Haubaus knew but little of the godless Forest Bangers' 
claaa; their experience of Fakehas was confined to tbe 
Church Mission and its followers, and they made a woefnl 
mistake, for morning broke and feund us in the trenches, 
rifle in hand and not a Frayer-book to be seen. About 
10 AM. the oracle began to work, several hundred men 
were seen to leave the pah, form up in two wedge- 
shaped masses, one a little behind the other, and advance 
upon our position under the thoi-n hedge; the enemy 
carried laige flt^s that appeared to be white, and this 
caused Major Fraser to mistake their character, and called 
out to the men not to fire upon flt^ of truce. Luckily 
Ifiggs was present ; he knew they were fighting flags, and, 
before the mistake could lead to serious cousequences, 
ordered the men to fire. By this time the leading wedge- 
shaped phalanx was duse to our line under the thorn 
hedge, our men fired a close deadly volley into them, but 
failed to stop the rush, for the next moment they lined the 
opposite side of the hedge, firing through into our rifle- 
pits. The camp, now thoroughly aroueed, opened a terrific 
cross-fire upon the seoond column, which broke at once ; 
Kome of the enemy rushed back to the ]>Ah. while others, 
lesa bold, threw themselves on (he ground and feigned 
death. The enemy under the thorn hedge were completely 
at our mercy ; the flanking pits were manned, and they 
were annihilated ; it did not take long, fur the whole affair 
was over in fifteen minutes, and sixty-three of the enemy 
lay dead on the fiat, our loes was one man wounded. 

An incident occurred during the fight worth mentioning, 
as a moral may be drawn therefrom ; while the enemy 
were charging up to the hedge, the prophet who led them 
was wounded, and as be fell one of his own men toma- 
hawked him. For some time after the hard fighting had 



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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 96 

ceased there was a de«ultoty fire kept up, verj arousing to 
all but the Hauhans ; for the poor wretches who had lain 
down feigning death, got tired of the oontinoal storm of 
bullets flj ing over them, and would occasionally start up 
and make a dash for the pah, bat with very indifierent 
^success, for there were too many men watching them. 
For two days longer this style of warfare was carried 
on, but by this time the bodies of the slain, lying between 
the combatants, smelt so badly, that Major Fraser ofiered 
the enemy an hour's truoe to bury their dead, provided 
they would also brinj; ours from where they had &llei); 
they accepted the offer, and buried their dead, but so far 
from bringing ours, they proaee<led to get water from the 
lagoon, and collect ammunition from the corpses. This 
was stopped byavoiley.aDd hostilities were again resumed 
on the evening of the seventh day ; a six-pounder gun was 
brought up from the Start, and one of the force, who was 
cnpposed to be an engineer in disguise, mounted it on a 
platform, not alb^ether with success, for each shot cauKed 
a back somersault Finally the refractory weapon was 
taken in hand by one of the Defence Force, whose first 
two shots were sent crashing through the palisadea, and 
oansed such terror to the Hauhaus, that b^ore the third 
shot could be diBchai^ed, they had hoisted the white flag, 
and sent out a woman to auk for peace. It was granted, 
and arranged that they should march out, deliver up their 
arms, and surrender themselves prisoners of wm-, which 
they did to the number of 400 ; but many of them escaped 
with the chiefs Anam Matete and Tamati Te Rangituawaru, 
and cleared out of the district. There were a large num- 
ber of killed and wounded in the pah, and some individual 
having set fire to the wbares, very few were saved, and 
those only by great exertions on the part of the force. 
The enemy lost on this occasion upwards of 100 men, and 
many wounded, whereas our loss did not exceed eleven 
killed and twenty wounded. The effects of this engage- 



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98 EEMINI8CENCE8 OF THE 

ment was decieive ; the Hauliaua deserted all tbeir etrong- 
holda, the heat disposed among them Burrendered, and the 
turbulent characters retired icland, and, with one single 
exceptioD, did not trouble the Pakebae again for years. 

During the aiege of Waerenga-a-Hika, Paora Paran, a 
Poverty Bay chief, waa seen leading a man by the collar,^ 
holding a revolver close to his head, and throatening him 
with instant death if he attempted to escape. The chief 
stated that he had oaught the individual in communication 
with the Hauhaus ; this man was the celebrated and in- 
famous Te Eooti, then one of our allies, a strong, active, 
daring man, about thirty years of age. He was coufincd 
for a day or two and then released, for there was no 
po-itive proof against him. The force now returned to 
Turanganui, taking with thom the prisoners ; the least 
guilty were soon after released and allowed to return to 
Oweta and other villages, Major Westnip and his rangers 
being sent to gariison Kohanga Earearea, to observe their 
behaviour, while the worst characters from Waiapn and 
Poverty Bay were transported to the Chatham Islands, 
that spot being selected as a safe penal settlement. Te 
Eooti was one of the number; he had been again accused 
of communicating with the enemy, this time hy some of 
the old FCttlers in the bay. There does not appear to have 
been much truth in the charge, fur the men whom he was 
BOCUsed of communicating with were a hundred miles 
off; nevertheleKS, he was shipped away without trial, 
and, aa many pei'soiis aseert, without cause, except that 
he was a truuldesonie, daring man, an adept at robbing 
hen-Toosfs, An., and in levying black-mail upon the old 
settlers of the bay. Whether there was or waa not 
suEBcient ground for his transportation matters not ; otbcr- 
wiso than it is certain that all the after atrocities com- 
mitted by him, or by his orders, were dictated by a re- 
vengeful spirit E^inst those who caused bis deportation. 
So much BO, that after the massacre in Poverty Bay, a lot 



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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 97 

of promieHor; aotea bearing the hated Dame of the man 
whom above all be considered hie enemy, were found by 
him. Te Kooti concluded that they must be money, and 
ate them with great gnato, in the firm belief that he waa 
repaying the man who bad injured him. 



CHAFTEB XVI. 

EAST COAST TXPEDiTlos—eontinued. 

TE MARO MARU AND TE KOPANI, 

After this cruabing defeat the Haahaus remained qniet, 
and it was evident that a large majority of them dexired 
peace ; there were etitl some roving bands who held 
the cotmtry inland, on the upper Waipaoa, and with 
one of these Sergeant, Walsh of the Defence Force fonght 
a moat gallant action. Shortly af(«r the fight at Wao- 
renga-a-hika the sergeant, who had heard wondroua tales 
about the petroleum- spring at the Pakake a Whirikoka, 
some thirty miles inland, persuaded an old settler (Ur. 
Eapie) and his son to guide him to the place. On 
arrival at the steep ascent leading to the springs they 
very foolishly left their horses, carbines, and coats in 
chai^ of the boy, and taking only their revolvers, pro- 
ceeded on foot. During their absence a party of Hanhaus, 
who had been watching their proceedings, stole up to the 
horsea and fired upon the boy. Luckily he saw them in 
time, and succeeded in making his escape, but left horses 
and carbines in the enemy's hands. The Hauhaus oarried 
off the portable loot, tied up the horses, and then followed 
in pursuit of Walsh and Eapie, who, having heard the 
shots, were returning post-haste. The first notice they 
received of the enemy's presence was a volley, which 
shattered Espie's arm, and wounded WaUh in the fore- 
head and hand. After a little skirmishing, during which 



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98 REMINISCENCES OF THE 

tlie latter was again wounded, the Hanhans mahed in to 
tomahawk and finish them. Walsh reoeived two more 
eevere wonnda; and. as a climax, a fellow, armed with 
a short fowling-piece, ran close to him and fired, the 
mnzzle almost touching his chest. To Walsh's astonish- 
ment the only effect was a nasty bum : the bullet must 
have fallen out in the hurry of loading. B^covering him- 
self quickly, the gallant eergeant sprang upon his assailant^ 
and struok him down with the butt of his revolver. 
That a man who had five bullet-wounds, some of them 
severe, should be able to fight at all, was extraordi- 
nary; bat that he shoald be able to strike down and 
capture the man who bad just fired a bullet through his 
chest, was too much for Maori philosophy. Tbey bolted 
for their lives, anxious only to get out of the way of so 
great a warrior and magician, forgetting in their hurry 
even to carry off the horses. Walsh and his friend 
proceeded down the hill with their prisoner, and found the 
horses, but no saddles; so putting a tether rope round the 
captive's neck, they led him, wounded as they were, to 
Turanganni, where they arrived that evening. This is a 
wonderful instance of cour<^ and eudnrance, eclipsing 
everytbi&g in the annals of the Uaori war; fur although 
badly wounded in five places, Sergeant Walsh still stuck 
to his prisoner, and notwithstanding his feintness from 
loss of blood, he rode into Turanganui, dragging his 
captive after him, a dietance of nearly thirty miles, and, 
although he delayed him several hours on the road, he 
never thought of letting him go. Had he during tlie 
skirmish shown the least sign of faint-heartedness, all 
three roust have been sacrificed ; but as it was be had the 
credit of beating off nine men, and Sir tieorge Grey, who 
arrived soon after, complimented him highly on the cour- 
agfi he had displayed. 

The Poverty Bay campaign had scarcely ended before 
complications arose in Te Wairoa, a district lying between 
Poverty Bay and Ahuiiri. The cause was the same, viz., 



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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 99 

the Hanhan religion, which had been introduced in the 
previons April by one of Eereopa's diBciplee, who called 
himself Bonaparte. This individual left Foverty Bay with 
a train of about fifty men, and visited Te Mahia, where he 
made many converts among the Nnkutaunia people ; btit 
his career was out ehort by the staunch old chief Ihaka 
Whanga, wbo ordered the Hauhaus to leave his territory. 
From here they went to the Whakaki, where they were 
even more suoceesful, for the whole of the sub-tribe joined 
the fanatics, so that by the time the prophet arrived in Te 
Wairoa he had 200 well-armed men under his commaiid, 
and every prospect of Dumerous converts among the 
Knrapakiaka tribe, who received him with open arms. 
The advent of these fanatics caused great excitement and 
alarm among the few European settlers and loyal Haories; 
bat they were to a certain extent prepared to meet the 
danger, for the governmeut ^ent (Mr. UoLean) had 
taken care to send Major Lambert and a few volunteers 
to their assistance, with arms for the friendly natives. 
These arms were issued to KopuParapora and his followers 
directly information was received of the Hanbau march. 
Thus there were about one hundred and sixty Ataoried 
and fifty Europeans ready for action when the enemy 
were seen deijceiiding the hill to the Kurupakiaka pah. 
On the 18th of April the first meeting was held between 
the contending parties. Eopn led the loyal tribes, and 
Mr. 3. Locke the Europeans. After the usual Hauhau 
ceremonies round the pole, the talking commenced. Eopu, 
who was the big gun on our side, spoke in a firm yet 
conciliatory manner, and gave the Hanhaos to under- 
stand that although he desired peace, yet he was prepared 
for the alternative, and not altogether unwilling to com- 
mence. These words, combined with bis well-known 
desperate character as a fighting man, bad some effect, for 
BoDaparte in reply said, "I will not destroy in Te 
Wairoa, but elsewhere." On the 20th reinforoements 
arrived from Te Mahia under Ihaka Whanga, and &om 

H a 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



100 EEMINISCENCES OF THE 

Mohaka uoder Poora Berepu, and marched to interview 
the HauhauB at Te Matiti. The meeting took place, and 
the loyal chiefs ui^^ the Haubaus to leave the district, 
teUing them that they -would have nothing to do with 
them. The firm tone and increasing strength of the 
friendlies had the desired effect, for by the 24lh the party 
had brokeu up and left for their homes. Only the prophet 
and a handful of men remained, to work mischief. Thus 
the Wairoa had for a time been t-aved irom anarchy, but 
only to break out again in December of the same year. 

The Wairoa tribe is a branch of the great Ngatika- 
hungann family, and had at this period four chiefs of nute, 
viz., Te Tuatini, Te Waru, Te Apatu, and Kopu Parapara ; 
the two former espoosed tbe Hauhau side of the question, 
and the two latter the Government side. Te Apatu was a 
man of high birth, but a cowardly nonentity ; whereas 
Kopn, luckily for ns, was a man of unusual course and 
energy, friendly to Eniopeans, and ready to fight at all 
limes. In December, 1865, there was a grand opening for 
a man of his dittposition, as the Hauhaiie, untaught by 
the sharp lessons received at Opotiki and Walapu, were 
threatening daily to attack the Government party. Such 
was the position of affairs when Major Fraeer was ordered 
to Te Wairoa, in the early part of December, to co- 
operate with Kopu in the suppression of Hauhauism. 

A portion of Te Waru's tribe, occupying the Marumarn 
village, on the Wairoa river, were the first attacked, and 
were disposed of in a running fight, during which they 
lost eight men; our loss being three killed and five 
wounded, amjng the former Captain Hussey, of the 
Taranaki llilltary Settlers. After this skirmish the 
enemy retired to Whataroa, Te Reiuga, and Waikare 
Moana, and nothing further was done until reinforcements 
arrived. On the 3rd of January the St. Kilda arrived, with 
150 Ngatiporou, under Bapata, and at a meeting held by 
Major Fraser and the chiefs it was decided to march upon 
thai letra incofjnita Waikare Moana, and attack the mixed 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 101 

tribes of Rongowhaliaata, Ngatikahnngnnn, and Uriwera, 
who had at'Bciabled at the lake to the number of 500. Oa 
the 6th, Rapata and his men joined Major Fraaer at Te 
Tawa ; Kgatikahuugunu under Kopn, and Ihaka Whanga 
joined on the 8th, and on the following morning thu 
expedition started. Uajor Bigge wished the column to 
move in two parties b^ different roads ; but this was 
opposed b; Rapata, who contended that such dispositions 
generally failed in rough country from the difficulty 
found in regulating the march so as to attack at the same 
time. Finally Riipata's advice was taken, and the force 
(with the exception of a few European officers) composed 
entirely of natires, marchod in one column, and camped 
that night at the Koaroare, where they remained until 
the 12th. On the morning of that day Rapata selected 
twelve of his best men, and went as advanced guard some 
distance in front of the main body. They proceeded 
cautiously for some miles until they reached the site of au 
old pah, where they found themselves nearly two miles in 
advance. This alarmed the men, and they suggested the 
advisability of waiting for the column; bat Kapata re- 
plied, with characteristic coolness, " lliey will hurry up 
when they hear us fired upon." Afiter this speech no 
further objections were made, and the small party pro- 
ceeded on their way, until they espied a party of Hauhaus 
hiding on the edge of a email bush in their direct line 
of advance. 

Thinking they had done their duty by discovering tbo 
ambush, the advanced guard halted until the main body 
came up, when all hands sat down, while the various 
chiefe addressed them in the old Maori style, reminding 
them of the deeds of their ancestors, and calling on the 
great fighting men to sustain their reputation. Xear the 
spot at which the enemy had been observed, the track 
entered a gorge, formed by two ridges, that on the left 
covered with high fern, that on the right crowned with 
buith, and rather higher than the other. Both these ridges 



sic 



102 KEHINISCENCEa OF THE 

were afterwards found to be rifie-pitted, and crowded 
witK men. During the halt Bapata apuke ae follows: 
" Ngatikabungunu, this is your country, and you know 
its dangerous places, therefore lead the way, and we will 
follow ; but 1 advise you before entering the gorge to 
open fire on either side of the track, to uncover and draw 
the fire of any enemy that may be concealed there." 
Ngatikahungunu said nothing, but moved on ; and when 
well within the gorge, the enemy opened a heavy plnnging 
fire upon them from both fianks and the front, killing 
eleven and wounding many men. The brave old chief^ 
Ihaka Whanga, stood his ground, thongh wounded in fonr 
places, and vainly tried to rally his men. Bapata, from 
hie petition in the rear, saw his advice disregsTded, and 
perceived the result of the ambuscade. With the eye 
of a true soldier, he saw that the only way to prevent a 
defeat was to t^torm the right-hand line of rifle-pits. He 
called on Ngatiporou, and they went in grand etyle, taking 
the pits, and killing moetoftheoocnpants. The Hanhaus, 
astonished by such rough dealing, were in their turn 
broken, and fied towards Lake Waikare, about four miles 
off, where they took to their canoes in such a hurry that 
the rear of the fugitives were left behind, standing on 
the edge of the lake, and were captured by our scouts on 
the following day. 

Among the priaoners was a brother of the fighting chief 
Kama, and the moat celebrated chief of the Hauhaus, 
Tnalini TamaionarangL They were both taken in the 
petal o-grounds on tlie north-west side of the lake. When 
the latt«r was brought into oamp, Bapata asked him his 
name ; the reply was, in the figurative language of the 
Maon, " Te Wairoa is the village, and the Taniwba who 
lives there Tamaionarangi." On hearing his prisoner's 
rank, Major Fraser remarked to Bapata, "The chief ought 
to be shot" Bapata took the remark seriously, and said, 
"Shoot him." S'JDie hours after, finding him still alive, 
Itapata ^aid, " Yuu all appear afraid to shoot this man, but 

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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 103 

I am not." So saying he took his captive by tha wrist, 
led him to the edge of the lake, and shot him and 
three others with his revolver. Thus died Tuatini 
Tamaionarangi, one of the past generation of great chie&, 
who, with Te Kani a Takirau, governed the whole east 
ooast in days gone by. The Iobb of the Hanbaua in this 
fight at Te Kopani wsa abont fifty killed, wonnded 
unknown; and on our side fourteen were killed and 
twenty wonnded. Bapata wished to follow them up even 
to Rnatahnna, bnt was OTerruled by Kopn, who thought 
that Bafficient had been done, and in the hour of triumph 
did not forget that he was fighting against his own 
relations. "Bat for this," said Bapata, "there would be 
no stragglen to bother ns," 

Bapata Wahawaha had for some time been looked upon 
as a sort of a god by his own tribe ; but after the fight at 
Te Eopani his credit was equally great with other tribes, 
who were not alow to recognise that the result was due to 
his bravery and promptitude. Thus ended the Wairoa 
campaign. 



CHAPTER XTH. 



The Haohana on the west ooast having refused to receive 
the peace proclamation iasned by His Excellency Sir George 
Grey in 1865, it was absolutely ueoessary for the peace 
(rf the district they should be pnnished ; for these tribes, 
taking advantage of the absence of the colonial forces at 
Opotiki, had committed some very treacherous and bar- 
barous murders ; the first one was on a Wanganui Maori 
named Eereti, who had been attached to Brigadier Waddy's 
staff as native orderly. This man had been ordered to 
select some one among the Weraroa prisoners to carry the 



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104 HEMINISCENCES OF THE 

peace proclamation to the Ngarannt and Pakakohi tribes, 
a dangerous duty for anyone but a Hauhau to undertake. 
One of the priaonerB, Tariu by name, was oboaen, and be 
volunteered to do the work. Mr. C. Broughton, interpreter 
to tbe forces, approved of the choice, and warned Eereti 
not to proceed beyond the Weraroa, he being a Wanganui, 
and friendly to the Ehiropeana, Eereti acknowledged 
tliat it would be unaafe to do bo, and promised to remain 
at the Weraroa. On the 25th of September be and Tari'n 
started from Wanganui, and on. arrival at tbe redoubt 
Taria was sent with the proolamations to the Putahi, 
while Kereti, foi^tting Mr. Brougbton'a warning, pro- 
ceeded on tbe fame errand to tbe Ngaraum tribe. On 
reaching the village of Arei Ahi he obuorved a strong 
party of Hauhans, who were en route to waylay stia^lers 
from the Weraroa, Theee men he avoided by hiding in 
the fem. After they had passed he went on to tbe 
Waitotara river, where be saw four women, and a man 
named Eawiri, on the opposite bank. 

Kereti called to them and stated his errand, hut was 
promptly informed that they would not consent to peace- 
making. He then asked them whether he was to return to 
the Weraroa. The women replied in tlie affirmative, but 
Bawiri said " Return here to-morrow, and the tribe will 
then talk it over with you," Eeieti very foolishly trusted 
to the good faith of aHauhau, and on the following morning 
started to meet the tribe ; but be did not go far, for tbe 
Hauhans expecting him, had an amhueoade laid on the 
edge of the Karaka plateau, within sight of the Weraroa, 
and their first volley mortally wounded him. He fell, and 
was immediately stripped of his valnables, but, strange to 
say, was not tomahawked. The garrison of the redoubt 
saw the volley fired, and hastened to hie assistance. They 
foand him dying, and carried him to the camp, where he 
lived sufficiently long to make a statement to Mr. C. 
Broughton, identifying Uawiri and two other men as hie 
murderers. 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 105 

Even the ez-Haabau Tariu wae not well rooeived, for 
the people of the Putahi refuued to receive the proclama- 
tions, and kept him a prisoner for some dajs. Eventually 
he was allowed to depart ; but bis chief and relation. Hare 
Tipene, warned him to return hy the sea coast, not by the 
tmck he had used previously, as ambuscades were lying 
in wait for him. 

The treacherous dispo^tton shown by these tribes ought 
henceforth to have been a warning to those people inclined 
to trust themselves to Maori honour; but such was not 
the oase.aB will be seen. On the 2<iihufSeptembera)etteT, 
signed by some PateaBauhaus was sent in to one of there- 
doubts. It contained a request that some person acquainted 
with the Maori language might be sent to confer with 
them on the proclamations which had reached them by the 
agency of Tariu. On receipt of this letter Brigadier Waddy 
ordered Mr. C, Broughton to proceed to Kakaramea, and 
communicate with the rebels. No time was lost, and, on the 
30th, Broughton and a Maori assessor from Wanganui, 
ettoorted by ten soldiera, left the Kakaramea redoubt, and 
proceeded in the direction of Otoia. Their fl^ of truce was 
seen, and a few Hanhaus went out to meet them, and in- 
vited them to enter the pah. This Mr. Broughton very 
properly refused to do, but proposed that the meeting 
should be held midway between their respective strong- 
holds. The Maories would not agree to this very reasonable 
request, and Mr. Broughton returned to the redoubt. On 
the following morning he went to the meeting-place of 
the previous day, and after hoisting his flag was met by 
three Hanhaus. One of them, named Baka, had been Mr. 
Broughton's servant some years previously, and now tried 
hard to persuade his former master to enter the pah, 
assuring him that he would be safe. Wi Pukapnka, the 
assessor, tried equally hard to prevent it, saying that 
treachery was intended, and absolutely refused to go a 
step further himaelf. 

Mr. Broughton unfortunately trusted his old servant 



106 BEHUflSGENCES OF THE 

and went on to the pah, while hie oompanions returned to 
Kakaramea, feeling that they had seen &e last of him. 
Of the ti«gody that euHued there Ja do really authentic 
aooount, hut the fallowing statement made by an eye- 
witness who beloi^ed to another tribe, is probably true. 
When Buka and Broughton entered the pah they found 
the tribe aBsenibied ; but instead of the loud welcome of 
" Haere njai ! Haere mai ! " usual in such oases, they were re- 
ceived in dead silence. As they entered the gate Broughton 
saluted the Hauhaus, but received no reply, and saw, when 
too late, that his fate was sealed. He eat down for a few 
momenta amidst the dead silence, and then, probably to 
hide his feelingH, took out his pipe, waited towards a fij*e 
and began to light it. While thus engaged a fellow named 
Maka shot him through the back, and ho fell partly upon 
the embers, where he writhed in agony until they dragged 
him off the fire and threw him over the cliff into the Fatea 
river. My informant added — " Do not blame Haka. It wae 
a cowardly murder, but every man in the tribe was equally 
guilty. Before the letter was sent, asking some one to meet 
them, it bad been decided to murder the man when he 
came." Thus far the peace proclamations h^ caused two 
barbarous murdere. Tlie Ifgarauru and Pakakohi tribes 
having in this manner shown their desire for war, the 
people of Tangahoe and Ngatitupaea evinced the same 
spirit, for on the 4th of October five troopers of the Military 
Traiu fell into an ambush on the main road between Mana- 
wapou and Te Uawera. Two of their horses were shot. 
Trooper Smith, unable to move, his horse having fallen 
on him, was tomahawked ; but his comrade escaped, after 
knooking down a Uauhau who tried to stop him. 



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i.vCoogIc 



WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 



CHAPTER XVIIT. 

GENERAL CHUTe's CAHPAIQN. 

THE FIGHT AT OKOTOKU. 

Under these repeated proTooations, his Excellency Sir 
Geoi^ Grey directed Major-General Cliute lo proceed 
sgaisBt the west coast tribes. The General had intended 
to commence operations early in December, but the ex- 
pedition wag delayed by the action of Mete Kisgi, who, 
immediately after the Native Contingent landed from 
Opotiki, announoed that he wonld withdraw bis men 
from the force. Within three days we had only thirty of 
onr 120 men left, and for some time it was feared that we 
should not get the number required for the campaign ; but 
the arrival of Doctor Feathetston, Superintendent of Wel- 
lington, whose indaenoe with Wanganui was very great, 
turned the scale. The chiefs Eepa and Wirihana seconded 
his efforts, and brought the warriors to their senses. The 
old hands began to ask themselTes the very pertinent 
question whether it was not better to serve the Qovem- 
mant than Mete Kingi ; and one very impudent sootuidrel 
asked that chief point-blank whether he would pvo him 
2s. 9d. per diem and rations. This turned the tide; the 
men rejoined, and shortly after Christmas 300 Maories 
(contingent and kupapae) Joined the general's force at 
the Weraroa. 

General Chute, who assumed command of the troops in 
New Zealand after the retirement of General Cameron, 
was a man well fitted for Maori warfare by his great 
energy and decision of diaracter. He never saw or made 
difficulties. Neither did he allow a few lives to stand be- 
tween him and his object. At the same time it must be 
admitted that he was incapable of such blunders as those 
which were made at the Gate pah and Bangiriri 



i.vCoogIc 



lOS REMINISCENCES OP THE 

On the 3rd of January, 1S66, tlie field force, compoBed of 
three oompanies of the 14th Begiment and nearly three 
hundred Maoriee, marched from the Weraroa in the direction 
of Okotiiku, and camped on the edge of the bush at Ngamotu. 
Ensign McDonnell, with the acouta of the contingent, went 
ont to reconnoitre and were fired upon from the bush. They 
followed np emartly, and oame npon the village of Okotukn, 
which they burnt On return to camp they reported 
having passed large plantations of potatoes and com, 
which the general deemed it adviaable to destroy. Con- 
sequently at grey dawn on the 4th, two companiee of the 
14lh and a strong partyofMaories under Major McDonnell 
advanced through the bush, preceded by an advanced 
guard of three, viz., two subaltern officers. Lieutenant 
Gudgeon, and Eneign McDonnell, and the great fighting 
man Winiata. In their eagemeae they did not perceive that 
they had outrun the main body, who had halted at Moturoa 
(the scene of a severe action three years after). On reaching 
the potato-plantation below the Tillage they were fired 
upon by a scout lying in ambufh, whom they chased np the 
rise and fired upon, but without effect, as ho entered a pah 
which had been erected during the night across a narrow 
neck of table-land with a precipice on either side. The 
small advanced guard moved on to the pah, but with what 
object it is difficult to determine, for they could hardly 
have expected to take it, and when within twenty yards 
received a volley from about thirty guns. They imme- 
diately fell fiat on the ground, and on inquiring after 
each other's welfare, and finding none hit, decided on re- 
tiring from their perilous situation to a small watercourse 
about twenty yards in rear, which would afford them 
cover. This movement was rapidly executed ; they received 
a second volley, but again without effect. This rather 
remarkable escape is not to be attributed so much to bad 
shooting on the part of the Hanhaos, as to the fact that 
the outer defences of the pah eonmsted of a breastwork of 
logs, so thick that there were no crevices to fire through, 

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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 109 

and too Iiigh to allow the defendera to depress the nmeslee 
of their guna sufScieutlf for their fire to take effect. 

Safe for the time in the wateroourae, Winiata hurled 
defianoe at the enemy, who came out at the opposite corner 
of their pah, and threatened to cut off their retreat ; but, 
luckily fur the advanced guard, the firing had alarmed the 
main body, who eooa came doubling up and opened fire, 
driving the Huubaiu back to their pah, while a eealona 
part,y of the 14th Regiment opened fire on the three nn- 
furtunatee in the watercourse, under the firm conviction 
that they were HauhitUB. This was too much fur Winiata'e 
philosophy, who, after expending all bis utock of bad lan- 
guage (a tolerably large one), treated them to a few shotii 
in return. This probably, combined wilh the entreatieu 
of the contingent who now came up, convinced the red 
jackets of their mistake, and they ceased firing. The 
general now oi'dered Lieutenant Keogh with his company 
of the I4th to storm the pah. They advanced steadily 
until the enemy opened a heavy fire, severely woimding 
Mr. Keogh and Heveral of his men. This brought 
them np for a moment, but almost immediately after the 
defences were entered at several points by the soldiers and 
contingent. The latter under their officers scattered in 
punajt of the flying enemy through Kome of the wildest 
country imaginable, and did not return until late in the 
evening, the result being three of the enemy killed, one 
wuunded, and one prisoner, in addition to three others who 
were killed in the attack on the pah. The prisoner had 
a narrow escape. He had evidently mistaken one of the 
pursuing parties for his friends, and gut too near for 
retreat to be possible. Finding our men coming straight 
towards him, he wisely took the initiative, and stepping out 
from behind a tree presented the butt of his gun as a sign 
of amity to the leading man of the contingent. Much as 
the noble savage was astoniuhed, and perhaps frightened 
at this apparition, his instincts were true to life, for he 
promptly seized the gun, and left the next man to seize 



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110 BEM1NI8CENCE8 OF THE 

the priaoner. Bat his heart was also in the right plaoe ; he 
neglect«d the man, but stripped him of tomahawk, cai-tonch- 
box, and other portable property, in a most workmanlike 
manner, and then went bis way rejoicing. Now the third 
man was naturally aggrieved there was nothing left for 
him; fin, after having achieved the feat of putting his 
tongae ont until it nearly reached hie chest, turning his 
eyes inside out, and other signs of Maori emotion, he 
ostentatiously pnt a oap on his rifle, when, fortunately 
for the prisoner, one of the contingent reoognised in him 
a long-lost brother, or something that would answer as 
well in Maoridom. 1 

Here was a dilemma. It was manifestly wrong not to 
kill an enemy, but then how about the Whanaunga (relation- 
ship) ? But, happy thought I perhaps he is not an enemv. 
So they began to question him: "Were you in the fight?" 
"Oh no," said the prisoner. " I was coming through the bush 
and I heard guns. Then I said to myself those wicked men 
are fighting the Pakeha, and I'll not join them. That is how 
you found me here." Of course it was impossible to kill so 
well-disposed a Maori, and he was sent back under escort to 
the general. After he had left, some doubts were expressed 
as to the captive's veracity ; and they ceased to be doubts 
when the Maori who had taken the gun sscertained that 
it had been recently fired. The last of the pursning 
parties returned late in the evening, and having been suc- 
cessful in the killing line alarmed the camp by a' terrific 
war-danoe. 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND, 



CHAPTER XIX. 
GENEBAL chute'b CAMPAlflN — continued. 

nCBT AT TE PUTABI AND OTAPAWA i NARROW ESCAPE OF 

THE GENERAL. 
The following day all hancU -were employed in destroying 
the planiationB at Okotnku ; andonthe6tli January, 1866, 
the force marobed to Te Pntahi, a position of great natural 
Btrength, situated od a spur of the plateau above the Whenna- 
knra river. About midday the oamp was pitched on the 
opposite ridge, within six hundred yards of the Hauhaus, 
numbers of whom could be seen preparing for the attack ; and 
it was evident that this would be a more eerioas a&ir than 
that of Okotuku. The general wished to attack at onoe, but 
Major McDonnell ui^od him to wait, as the enemy from 
their elevated p(«ition could observe our point of attack, 
and mass their men in any position to oppose our advance 
up the narrow and densely-wooded ridges, where a veiy 
small front could be made by the attacking party, and a 
corresponding loss of life must ensue. Upon these repre- 
sentationA the general agreed to defer the attack until 
2 A.u. the following morning, to the great satisfaction of 
all oonoemed. To while away the time the contingent 
muiaged to get up a skirmish in the afternoon, and had a 
man wonnded. He was shot through the chest, the ball 
sticking in the skin of bis back. He made no fuss, but 
walked into oamp, and quietly requested Dr. Walker to 
remove the ball. AVhen it was done he seemed perfectly 
happy, and took no further notice of the matter. 

About 2 A.u . the attacking column, oonaisting of detach- 
ments of the 14th, 18tb, and 50th B^ments, Forest 
Bangers, and the friendly Maories, marched to the attack. 
Avoiding the spurs on which the enemy had strong am- 
buBoadea, they made a d^toor of a mile or so, and diinlwd 



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112 BEMINIBCENCES OP THE 

the preoipitona slope of the plateciu, reaohing the top jnst 
aa the first streaks of daylight were visible. I'he Hauhans, 
after danoing the nBr-danoe, were just commeQcing their 
religious oeremonies round the oiu, little thinking that 
our men were within a few hundred yards of them. Major 
McDonnell with his Maories were detached to take them in 
rear, and our men were closing quietly bat rapidly with 
the enemy, when some of the kupapas (volunteer Uaories) 
opened a useless dropping fire. The Hauhaus fied with 
great celerity to their rifle-pits, and the chance was 
lost. This pieoe of idiotcy so incensed the general, that 
he threatened to send the whole of the kupapas hack as 
useless. The imperial troops were now ordered to storm 
the position, and the Hauhaus, after a sharp engagement, 
retreated to the bush, leaving fourteen dead behind them. 
Our loss was two killed and twelve wounded, among Ihe 
latter Major McDonnell. A bullet entered the muscles of 
bis foot, and effectually prevented his taking an active 
part in the future action of the campaign, though it did 
not prevent his remaining with the general, as he feared 
complications with the Maori portion of the force should 
he he absent. A small parly of fugitives was intercepted 
on the opposite side of the river by an ambuscade of the 
oOth Regiment under Colonel Weare; one Hauhau was 
kilted and another taken prisoner. 

This fight ended the operations south of the Fates river; 
the majority of the Hauhaus retreated to their inland pahs, 
but the bolder and more able-bodied portion joined the 
Tangahoe tribe in their stronghold at Otapawa. Up to 
the 8th the men ware engaged in destroying pahs, rifle- 
pits, and plantations; but on the 12th they pitched camp 
in the neighbourhood of Otapawa. . On the following day 
Ensign McDonnell with the Native Contingent recon- 
noitred the Hauhau position. He was fired upon several 
times, but without loss — not an unusual thing in early 
Maori warfare. After repotting the result of his observa- 
tions to the general, it was decided to attack at once. 



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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 113 

Three hours before dajr break tbe men stood to tbeir arma 
and marched ofiL Tbe plan of attack was that the troops 
and Forest Bangers should follow the track previoasly 
taken by Uie reoonnoitring party, and attack on the com- 
paratively open l^nt of the pah, vhile the contingent and 
kapapas marched through the bush to the rear of tbe 
podtioD, with the view of cutting off retreat. The plan 
was a good one : had it been carried ont, few of the enemy 
wonld have escaped ; but when the general arrived in front 
of the pab he ordered an Armatrong gun to be brought 
np, and fired several shells into the p)aoe, to make tbe 
enemy show their strength. Some wharee were set on 
fire, and, as we afterwards heard, a man's head blown off 
his shonlders; but the garrison made no sign. All was 
still as death ; not a sound could be heard, and the general 
woidd not believe that tbe enemy were there. Under 
thcKO circnmstances he declined to wait for the contingent 
to get in rear, they having a long and diCBoult road to 
travel, and ordered the detachment of the 57th Begiment 
under Lient.-Colonels Butler and Hassard to storm the 
stockade, supported by the 14tb. Well the old Crimean 
veterans maintained their reputation. On advancing, they 
found that the enemy had carefully levelled the ground in 
Aront of the pah to prevent the attacking party finding 
cover, and when within fifty yards of tbe palisadee the 
hitherto perfect silence was broken by a volley from at 
least 200 Hauhaus, who, hidden in their rifle-pits behind 
the strong palisades, rained death and deetruotion upon 
the gallant 57th. For a moment the etornuDg party 
halted; but Colonel Bailer's voice, calling out "Qo on. 
Die Hards 1 " steadied them ; and rushing to the palisade, 
they tore it down with hands and tomahawks, and entered 
the pah, kilting all who had the presumption to stop, or 
not time to escape. Meanwhile Major Ton Tempeky with 
his Forest Bangers had been engaged with a party of the 
enemy who were in tbe bash on the right flank of the pah, 
and had driven them back, with a loss to hinwelf of two 
men wounded. The enemy lost twenty-nine men killed, 



114 BEMINISCENCE8 OP THE 

&nd OUT casnalties wereeqnally heavy, being eleven killed, 
and twenty wonnded, among the latter the gallant Colonel 
Haasard mortally, and Lieutenant Swanson, of the 14th 
Begiment, slightly. It was reported that the former of 
these two officers fell by the hand of Kimball Bent, a 
deserter from the 67th, who, having been pttniahed by the 
colonel some time before, had fled to the Hauhaas. That 
snch was the case appears nnlikely, for the tribe with 
whom he was living were not present during the action. 
This wretch is still living with the Haahaus. General 
Chute had a very narrow escape, for while direoting the at- 
tack a ballet oat one of the bnttons off his ooat. He merely 
remarked, " The niggers seem to have found me oat Go on. 
Colonel Butler." The Native Contingent arrived in rear of 
the pah too late to do more than follow Tip the enemy, of 
whom they overtook and killed three ; but half an hour's 
delay in the attack would have enabled them to take their 
place in rear of the pah, in which case the rebels must 
either have surrendered or been killed, as there coittd have 
no escape. This is the first and last really well- 
~, pah ever taken by assault in New Zealand, 
though it has often bees tried both before and since. 



CHAPTER XX. 

OEOTiRAL chdte'h oampaiqn — Continued. 

KETEMAKAE. UARCH TO TARANAKI. FIOHT AT WAIKOKO.' 

tJp to this period the imperial officers had carefnlly 
avoided marching any distance into the New Zealand 
bush ; but General Chute, seeing no sufficient reason for 
such avoidance, conceived and carried oat the idea of 
marching through the bush behind the mountain from 
Ketemarae to Taranaki, a distance of nearly sixty miles. 
Uany people have since characterised the march as useless ; 
but if it did no aotual good, it is certain that no harm 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 115 

resolted. The destraction of Otapawa being completed, a 
reconnoitring party of 150 Mendly Maoriee were puahed 
forward to Eetemarae ; when, after a long wet nlgbt-march 
they oame in sight of tbe pah, two soonta, who found 
the pah deserted, were sent forward, consequently the 
friendly Maories retired into the bush until the troops 
arrived and took pOBsession, as they feared being mistaken 
for tbe enemy; but on emerging therefrom at daybreak 
they received a volley from some Hauhans, who were 
watching prooeedii^ at no great distance. The chief, 
Eepa, immediately divided his men into two parties — sent 
one of them to cut off the enemy, and at the bead of the 
other charged them in front, killing three with his first 
volley; he tben followed dosely to an old deserted pah, 
where tbe Hauhaus made a stand and lost five more men, 
after which they broke and fled. Eepa followed in 
ptirsoit of the main body, and fall in with tbe other half 
of bis force, who had killed two men. The united force 
now moved towards the large pab Mawhitiwhiti, on the 
Opposite side of the Waingongoro river; bat the enemy did 
not await their attack, for after firing a few volleys at long 
range they fell back on another and better position. Here 
onr men tried to anrronnd them and cut off their retreat, 
but the Hauhaus were in force ; so a eei^eant was sent for 
reinforcements in case they should be required, and the 
attack commenced. After ten minutes' heavy firing from 
three sides, the Hanhana were seen escaping into a bush 
gully. A general charge ensued; the stronghold was 
carried, and seven more bodies found. After this affair our 
Maories thought they had done enough for one day, and re- 
tamed towards the camp. Seeing this, the Parthian tribe of 
Ngaruahine turned and became the pursuers, but only for 
a short distance, as Eepa drew them into an ambush and 
killed two more, after which even Ngaraahine thought 
discretion tbe better part of valour, and allowed the force 
to return in peace. In this dashing skirmish seven pahs 
or viUages were captured and destroyed, viz., Te Whennkn, 
Te Miro, Eanihi, Mawhitiwhiti. Tapuki, Otukeri, and 



116 BEUINI8CENCEB OF THE 

Werawere. All or moet of the loHaes on this day fell upon 
Titokovam's tribe, but thia chief was not then bo &moQe — 
or rather, in&moaa — as be afterwords became, Toi being 
the leading chief in these engagementa. On the evening 
of the 16th General Ghnte issued orders for the force, 
consisting of three companies of the 14th Kegiment and 
Native Contingent, to prepare to start on the follorring 
morning on the march through the forest in rear of Afotint 
Egmont, not anticip&tii^ any objeotioD from the native 
portion <^ the force. About midnight Uajor UcDonnell 
and Br. Featherston amved in camp, and soon asoartained 
that the Uaoiies had made up their minds not to go, 
objecting to march so far from their homes. This wonld 
have put a stop to the expedition. Threats and persnaaions 
were alike oseleaa with chiefs of the Hete Eingi stamp, bnt 
McDonnell wisely availed himself of Br. Featherstou's 
influence, and calling the head chief, old Hon Eingi Te 
Anaiia, into his tent, asked if he intended to fail his friend 
the doctor after bo many years of friendship and trust. 
This appeal was too much Sot the good old chief. He sat in 
thought for some minutes, then taking their hands in his, 
Bud, " Thongh alt my tribe refuse to go, I shall be with you." 
After this speech he went to the door of the tent and 
addreesed his people as follows : " Listen, yon who have 
refused to march with the Fakeha. It is well ; bnt I will 
go with them, even though I go alone. It shall not be said 
that I deserted them ; bnt I warn yon all that if you desert 
me I will never t^ain live in Wanganui. Henceforward 
the Pakehas will be my only firiends." There vras a dead 
silence after this speech for some seconds ; then arose a 
general ohoms of " We will go I we will go I " And they 
did, eighty picked men following old Hori next morning on 
their bush march. £ach soldier carried three days' pro- 
visions and left his knapsack behind. The Maories had also 
three days' rations issued to them, bnt as they had not 
intended to go until the last moment, they had eaten moat 
of it, M> they travelled light. The force was accompanied 
by a large number of pack-horses, and they proved a great 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 117 

Bonroe of trouble And d«lay ; for the country is intersected 
by creeks mnning in deep beds, and these had to be 
Inridged before the horeee oonld be got over. This will 
account for the astonishing time of seven days taken to 
marofa abont sixty miles, the Bev. Father Pesant 
haring walked the same road in two days on more than 
one occasion. The oolnmn was led by two Hanhan guides, 
who deserted after tiie first day's march, and meeting a 
small party of their friends coming down the track, warned 
them to return, as the Fakehas were coming. This was 
more tiian the Hauhaos could believe, so they aat down to 
breakfast, and were surprised by the advanced guard of 
the oontingent, who killed three out of seven men, and 
oaptnred a girl. Up to this time the road had been pretty 
distinct, bat on the 18th the track was barely visible, and 
the pioneers had to dear it as the force advanced; the 
streams and rivers also became more nnmeroua as they 
approached Taranaki, and rendered progress very slow. 
On the 21at the oarefnily hoarded rations were exhausted, 
and horseflesh was served out to the men. Ensign 
W. McDonnell volunteered to pnsh on to Taranaki and 
bring np supplies. Permission was readily granted, and 
he started, accompanied by I>r. Walker, Captain Leach, 
D.A.Q.G., and Mr, Prioe, a commissariat ofSoer. After a 
and long fatiguing march they reached Mataitawa, meet of 
them completely knocked np ; but HcDcnnell, after a short 
rest, guided a party of soldiers carrying provisions for the 
general's force. The Maories reached Mataitawa on the 
sixth day, but the imperial troops did not oome in until 
the seventh day, the 24th of January, 1866. On reaching the 
Waiwakaio river the Taranaki settlers met the troops, gave 
them a splendid dinner, and otherwise behaved with the 
kindnees and hospitality for whioh they are famous. The 
change was a pleasant one for men who had been marching 
for five days in pouring lain, and deeping on wet ground 
each night The general did not remain long in Taranaki. 
A few days were given to refresh his men, while he 
piepared for the return march by the coast, in which hs 

OOglf 



118 BEHINISCENCEB OF THE 

was to be aocompanied by the Taranaki caT&by and a 
company of Bush Rangers under Captain Corbett, sharp 
work being expected with the Warea people. The oolomn 
marched on the lat of Febmary, but nothing of importance 
happened until they reached Waikoko, a native village 
lying between Warea and Opunaki, where the Hanhana 
made a most determi ned stand, killing one of onr men and 
wounding several others, while they had only four men 
killed. The Kative Contingent wei'e first in the village, 
but behaved very badly ; not that they feared to face the 
Hauhaus, but that they did not oare to get in front of 
the soldiers, who were by no means quick to discriminate 
between friend and foe when both were Maories, so they 
stood aside while the soldiers carried the vill^e. This 
was the last skirmish of the campaign ; two days after the 
foroe arrived at Waingongoro, and woto ordered to their 
several posts. 

1 have before' mentioned that only eighty knpapaa 
marched through the forest with General Chute, the 
remainder were left in charge of Lieutenant Wirihana, N.G., 
and Hunia Te Hakeke (Chief of Ngatiapa), with orders to 
harass the enemy in every possible way, by destroying 
cultivations, burning villages, &e. On the 20th of January 
Lieutenant Wirihana, who had been engaged in one of 
these raids, found that a man of his party was missing. 
The next day several search parties were sent out. One 
of these detachments, eighteen strong, under the young 
Ngatiapa chief Aperahama, after searching the whole 
morning, sat down to rest in a bush clearing, five miles 
from camp, and were eurprised by a volley from nearly 
fifty Hauhaus. All our men but two bolted for the bnsh 
and took cover, but Wi Pekapeka and Hanieta stood their 
ground until the former was mortally wounded, when 
Hanieta took the wounded man's belts and rifle and hid 
them in the ecrnb, after which he returned and continued 
the fight, until the others, ashamed of their conduct, joined 
him, and held the ground until Aperahama was severely 
wounded, when, finding that the enemy were attempting 

o;;lc 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 119 

to BTHTonnd them, they retired in good order. Laoklly 
Wirihana, who had heard the firing eome milee away, came 
to their relief with twenty men, and after a sharp eogage- 
ment beat the Bauhana back with a lose of six men. It 
was subsequently asoertained from the Hanhaos that the 
miseing man had lost his way, and while wandering in 
the bnsh had come across a party of the enemy, who shot 
him. On the following day Colonel Butler had a skirmish 
with the enemy near Eatotauni, in which we had a few 
men wounded, but the enemy's loss, if any, was not ascer- 
tained. This affair, with a few trifling exceptions, ended 
the operations of the imperial troops in New Zealand. 
The Native Contingent, reduced to fifty men, were ordered 
to Pipiriki to relieve the detachment of the 5 Tth Regiment, 
irho were about to be withdrawn to head-qnarters. The 
contingent reached their destination about the beginning 
of February, and held it until the following July, during 
which period they contrived to open up friendly commu- 
nications with the hostile Wanganuis, to such an extent 
that Pehi Toroa invited the whole of the friendly tribes to 
meet him at Mangaio and discuss the situation. Ahout 
400 men accepted the invitation; the start was worth 
seeing, as they prooeeded up the river in thirty canoes, 
some of them very large and ornamented with flags, 
feathers, &a. When about half a mile firom the pah. Mete 
£ingi gave ne a specimen of Maori caution most charaoter- 
istio offals race. He called all the canoes round him, and 
spoke as follows: ""We do not know the truth of these 
people. They may be good; they were so originally, for they 
are Wanganuis like ourselves. But, oh, my children, they 
have become Hauhans, and no trust can be pUced in them. 
Therefore I say fire off your guns, for it is Maori etiquette 
to show you trust your hosts, and you will also have tfaem 
in good order to re-load, as they will be certain to go off 
properly if treachery is intended." After this excellent 
advice, each warrior fired off his long-loaded gun to show 
how much he trusted his long-lost brethren, and then 
oarefnlly re-loaded in oase of mistakes. Below the pah 

.Coogic 



120 BEBQNISCENCEB OF THE 

there was s formidable rapid, which neooasitated the 
TJsitOTB' landing and dragging their canoes after them over 
a boulder bank, and then re-embarking close to the pah 
nnder a cliff, in ench a dangeroos poeition that all Hete 
Kingi'a preoaations wanld have been useless had our 
friends meant mischief. But they did not, for the Wan- 
gsjmi landed safely amidst a paodemoniam of Hauhan 
incantations and Maori war-danoee. One man, a brother of 
Topia, stark mad with fanaticism, spoke Maori with an 
English accentuation so Jadiorooa that even the old chiefs 
of onr party conld not help laughing, and by so doing 
spoilt the gravity and impasBiveness of demeanour 
absolutely necessary on such occasions. The talking 
lasted for two days, intarmpted only by feasting, and 
conoltided satisfactorily fur us. The main points of the 
treaty were as follows : Firstly, that eternal peace should 
be maintained on the Wanganui river ; secondly, that 
either uf the contracting parties should be at perfect 
liberty to go and fight at any other part of New Zealand. 
This treaty was sorapolously kept, and it enabled the 
Government to dispense with the Fipiriki garrison, and 
use the contingent in the forthcoming campaign against 
the Ngatiruanui tribe. 



CHAPTEE XXL 
COLONEL McDonnell's oaupaiqh. 

FIGHT AT POKAIKAI. 

The defence minister (Colonel Haultain) having decided to 
ooonpy the confiscated lands lying between the Waitotara 
and Waingongoro rivers, recalled the west coast foroefl 
which were then at Opotiki, consisting of the Pat«a and 
Wanganui Bush Rangers, Yeomanry Cavalry, and Nos. 8 
and 10 Companies of the Taranaki Military SettletB. These 
corps were ordered to rendezvous at Fatea, where th^ 



COLOHF.L M'' JJGHNELL 






i.vCoogIc 



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WAB m NEW ZEALAND. 121 

woald be joined hy th« oontiagent from Fipiriki. Early 
in July, 1866, Colonel McDonnell aaanmed command, and 
marched his men to Manawapon, a central poaition, from 
irhich he ooald operate in any direction. On the 26th he 
started for Waingongoro, to hold an interview with Wi 
Hnkanni, a aemi-friendly chief, whose serrices were arail* 
able to aeoertain whether the Hanfaaas intended peace or 
war. The interriew terminated by the colonel giving 
Hnkanui a cartridge and a white handkerchief to forward 
to the Hauhans, with a message requesting that they would 
choose at once between these typical emblems, and Tetnm 
to him the one rejected ; he also mentioned that, in the 
event of their choosing the cartridge, it would be well for 
them to appoint the hattle-gronnd. 

Wi Hnkanai proposed as an amendment that the colonel 
Bfaonld go, aloue and unarmed, with him to meet the 
Hanhaoa ; hat Mr. Bronghton's fate was too recent ; oar 
somewhat rash commander declined the honour and re- 
turned to Manawapou. On the following morning a letter 
was brooght in from the Hauhaiis, and McDonnell, with 
twelve troopers aod fifty Maoriu and Forest Bangers, pro- 
ceeded again to Waingongoro ; ^m thence be went on to 
the Eauae pah, escorted by the troopers only, and foimd 
several of the leading Hanhan ohiefa, inoladlng Hone 
Fihama and Natanahira, awaiting hia arrivaL After a good 
deal of speechifying, these chiefs promised to bring the 
Otapawa tribes to Fatea. The colonel then informed 
them of the nature of his instmctions, and read several 
official letters, which stated that they would have snfGoient 
land given them to live upon, but that the remainder 
vonld be conGscated. He concluded the meeting by saying, 
" I now return to Waingongoro, and shall wait there until 
to-morrow moruing, wheu, if yon desire peace, you will 
visit me at that camp. If I do not see you, I shall know 
you intend war, and shall act accordingly." 

The chiefii did not pay their promised viitit on the 
morrow, so the colonel and his men returned to Manawa- 
pou, accompanied by a Hanhan boy who wished to visit 



122 BEHINISCENCEB OF THE 

a relative then with th« coutiagent. On the foUoving 
day the boy and his female relation, liangimoea, went to 
Otapawa. On her return to camp, she reported that she had 
been threatened, and that she considered that her life was 
in danger all the time she remained at Otapawa. This 
decided McDonnell to strike at onoe, as it waa olear that 
the Hauhaua did not mean peaiw, or they would have 
behaved differently ; consequently, on the Ist of Augnnt 
200 men marched to attack the villus of Fokaikai ; the 
night was fine but piercingly oold, and, as there were many 
swamps and one river to cross, the men had rough timea 
of it. One officer, surprised at the sndden thicknees of 
his sword, found that it wan coated with ice. The column 
advanced cautiously, fearing that they might be diaoovered 
by the enemy's scouts ; but Inokily the advanced guard 
discovered the ecoula retiring to their warm hats, satisfied 
that the Pakehas would not attack them on snch a cold 
night. The force followed rapidly upon their tracks, and, a 
few minutes after one o'clock, arrived within 100 yards of 
the pah, sufficiently near to hear the children running ap 
and down imitating the neighing of horsea. Colonel 
McDonnell's arrangements were exoellent ; bat man pro- 
poses and God disposes. No. 8 Company of Military Settlers 
were placed in front, as they were armed with bayonets, 
whereas the other corps had carbines and revolvers ; and 
Captain Wlbon was ordered to enter the village silently, 
qnickly place guards over the doors, and nse the bayonet 
if neoessary, but on no aooount were the men to fire, 
lest they should alarm the inhabitants of Taiporohenni, 
as KoDonnell intended if possible to attack them the same 
night Captain Wilson and his men advanced ; bnt just 
before they entered the village some one gave a cheer, 
which was taken up by bis comrades, and so alarmed the 
BauhauB that they rushed out of doors and windows, and 
escaped before oar men could seize them ; the conseqnenoe 
was that the men opened fire on the fugitives, and ovei^ 
threw all our plans. Four of the enemy were killed, and 
abont ten women and children taken prisoners. We had 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 123 

bnt one casn&l^, a young Tolnoteer namod Spain. He liad 
gone into ft whare to bring out a dead Hanban, and while 
engaged in this undertaking a party of Forest Bangers oame 
np, and asked who was in the wbare ? Tbe reply was " A 
white man," meaning a friend. TTnfortnnately the Bangers 
oondnded that it meant the deserter Eimball Bent, and at 
onoe fired a volley into the hut, which mortally wonnded 
Spain. Out buoooss at first sight appeared to be trifling, 
but on searohing the whares it was found that the Hauhaus 
had left thirty-five stand of good guns behind them, besideH 
tomahawks and other weapons. This would praotioally 
disarm the tribe, and leave tiiem at onr mercy. One woman 
was mistaken for a man in the darkness, and slightly 
wounded by a bayonet thrust. She was left in a detached 
whare, where she would be certain to be found by her 
biends in the morning, as she did not care to go as a 
pnsoner to our oamp. The remaining whares were burnt, 
to ensure the destruction of any ammunition oonoealed 
therein, and the expedition returned to Uanawapon. One 
of the ofBoere, Captain Newland, who was the happy pos- 
sessor of a long beard, was a source of great amusement to 
his men : when day broke he preeentod a most venerable 
appearance, his beard being white as snow, frozen hard by 
the intense cold. This is a true and correct account of the 
insignificant skirmish at Fokaikai, which would probably 
have never been heard of ^ain had not Messrs. Graham 
and Parris rendered it fomous by the accusation they 
brought against Colonel McDonnell and bis men of un- 
necessary violence and cruelty on the occasion. The 
chai^ of making a murderous attack upon women and 
children was one that should never have been brought 
against UoDonnell ; bnt it was done, and a ocmmission, 
composed of Sir CracrofC Wilson, Colonel Cargill, and Mr. 
Graham, sat in Wanganui and at Fatea, where they ex- 
amined numerous witnesses, both Hauhau and friendly. 
Mr. Graham snd Mr. Farris did their best, but utterly 
foiled in diciting evidence of murderous outrage. At 
one period in the examination it seemed that they mmld 
.Coo.; 



124 BEUnnSCENCES OF THE 

be Bncoesafiil, for it was stated that a man had tern a 
greenstone ornament out of a woman's ear ; but even thia 
small mercy was denied tbem, for it appeared that the man 
did m>t belong to the force, and that he had been placed 
under arrest so soon as the offenoe was noticed. The whole 
of the charges were proved to be false; but it is only justice 
to Mr. Qraham to state that he really believed them, and 
had been a tool in the hands of mischievous and interested 
men, who probably did not believe in anything bat their 
own interoet. As for Sfr. Parris, the force had much the 
same opinion of his merits as General Chute bad at Warea 
in 1866, when he requested him to clear oot of the camp 
at short notice. 

The immediate results of this skirmish were most im- 
portant, for on the 6th (^August messages were received 
from the Tangahoe tribe, informing AIoDonnell that they 
desired peace, and asking him to meet tbem at Ohangai 
to dieouas tenns of surrender. The colonel assented to 
the proposition, and appointed the following day for the 
meeting. 

Having some distrust of the good faith of the tribe, 
he did not proceed alone, but was aooompanied by the 
mounted men and Native Contingent. On arrival at 
Ohangai, they found the chiefs Tito Te Hanatana and 
Tukino with twenty-five men, assembled in great trepido- 
tion, evidently fearing that their long career of treachery 
and crime might be requited in kind by the terrible 
McDonnell ; but I euppoae our appearance must have been 
reassuring, for they were soon at tfaeir ease, and spoke in 
the most peaceful and friendly terms. McDonnell, in reply, 
dwelt strongly on the faat that the land had been taken, 
and would be kept, by the Fakehas, and that they need 
not expect that the fact of their having surrendered, after 
having done all possible mischief, would give them any 
claim on the Government; at the same time he explained 
that he was aathorised to state that sufficient land would 
be given to enable them to live comfortably as before. 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 125 

The chiefe expressed thenuMlvea wtisSed with thia view 
of the eahjoot, and signed the oath of all^ianoe, m did 
oU their meo present : many of them kept it throoghont 
Titokowam's ontbretk, and it is probable that those who 
joined in that rebellion did so ander presBnre. The effect 
of the ekdrmish did not end here, for, a few days after, the 
bnmeh of the Fakokohi tribe liviiig at Meremeie and Te 
'Wbakamara came in and swore allegiance. Thns onr 
enemies were reduced by two tribes, and we had only the 
Ngamahine and Ngatitapaea to deal with; bat they were 
more than snfficient to oconpy our attention with the few 
mec remaining in the force. At this period our men con- 
sisted almost entirely of military settlers who had engaged 
to serve for a term of three years, at the expiration of which 
time they were to reoeive a grant of land. Three of the 
best of these oompaniea, ISO strong, were with McDonnell : 
they had served the period for which they were enlisted, 
and considered that they were entitled to a farther grant 
of land if they oontinned to serve. Under these oironm- 
stancee. Colonel McDonnell allowed them to send an officer 
to Wellington, to represent the case to Colonel Hanltain, 
uking for a further grant of ten acres for each year served 
over and above the period agreed upon. Thia demand was 
not exorbitant, the more so that Qovemiaent had failed on 
their part to give the men possession of the land to which 
they were entitled. Yet the Qovemment notonly refused 
to do anything for the men, bat replied that they might 
leave the service if they did not choose to wait nntil the 
land was ready for them. Thia answer to men who oon- 
ndered the Government indebted to them, added fuel to the 
fire, and tbe Patea Bangers (probably the best corps ever 
laised in New Zealand) left the service in a body, as the 
other two companies had already done. For many years 
the losa of these men was severely felt, and never more 
so than inTitokowaru'a outbreak. This falling off reduced 
the force to 160 men of all ranks, and our commander 
found it very difficult to hold the neoesaaiy posts and at 



126 BEMraiSCENCEB OF THE 

Qi« same time find men for expeditiona. It conld only be 
done by withdrawing the men from the posts the night 
before the intended movement, leaving only half-a-dozen 
at each redoubt to monnt guard during the absence of 
the garrison. This was indeed dangerous, for bad the 
enemy discoyered our position they would infallibly have 
taken tiie redoubts ; but it was the only plan poseible at 
the time. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

COLONEL UcDONHBLL'S OAUPAION. 

TE PUHGAREHU. 

Thz first ekirmieh with Titobowaru'a tribe took plaoe on the 
2Dd of September. A strong reconnoitring party had been 
sent out to examine the Eetemarae district, and while so 
doing were fired npon by an ambuah of the enemy. 
Captain F. Roes and three men were aeverely wounded : 
but, by a rapid ohai^ on our part, two of the enemy were 
killed before they could escape to the bush. McDonnell 
now dedded to build a redoubt at Waihi olose to Eetemarae, 
as it was evident that most of our work would be in this 
neighbourhood ; consequently, on the 5th, 120 men of the 
Forest Rangers and oontingent, under Captain Newland, 
marched from Te Hawera and pitohed camp within 400 
yards of the Ketemarae bush. It rained heavily thronghout 
the day, but every precaution was taken against a night 
attack, by throwing up rifie-pits and a small broast-work 
on the bush side of the encampment. Shortly after dark 
the Hauhaus reconnoitred the positions, but were seen by 
the sentries and fired upon. The shots brought the men out 
of their tents and into the rifie-pits, which were half-full of 
muddy water ; but nothing farther occurred, as the enemy, 
probably satisfied that they had no chance of surprising us, 
did not again disturb the men. Next morning UoDonnell 



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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 127 

airiTed, to seleot a site for the permanent oamp ; bat 
he was almost immediately recalled to Manawapoa by a 
mees^e from Major Inman, 18th Regiment, to the effect 
that a deserter from the 67th had juet oome in from the 
Hauhaus, aud surrendered himeelf a prisoner. This man 
had been twelve months with the enemy, and it was ex- 
pected that he oonld give valuable information as to 
their positiona and movements, so McDonnell returned 
to Manawapoa and questioned the man, but foand to his 
disgost that he oould give him no information. He bad 
evidently been treated like a slave, and seemed only too 
glad Jio be onoa more with his regiment. 

In HoDonnell's absence the present site of the Waihi 
oamp was ohosen for our redoubt. All available hands were 
set to work, and by the 10th they had fortified the site of an 
old pah sufficiently for a small body of men to hold it easily. 
This was done in the midst of a terriflo expenditure of 
powder and shot by the Hauhaus, who used daily to firo 
volleys &om the edge of the bush, 1000 yards distant. 
Occasionally the contingent would seize their rifles, leave 
their work, and drive back the enemy, with great safety 
to both parties. One of the enemy's guns must, from the 
noise it made, have been a two-pounder : the Bangers 
christened it Big Ben. In a Bkirniish on the 13th two of 
the enemy were severely wounded, and as the blood spilt 
demanded vengeance, affairs soon took a more aerious tone. 
The camp was supplied with provisions from Fatea by a 
two-horse dray nnder escort of three troopers, a number 
admirably qualified to invite attack, and perfectly useless 
for protection, as we eood experienced. On the 16th the 
Hauhaus laid an ambuscade at a point where the road ap- 
proached within 400 yards of the bush, and rather more 
than half a mile from camp. Hidden behind a few flax- 
bushee, they allowed the troopers to approach them, and 
then fired a volley into them, killing trooper Haggarty's 
horse, und the unfurtnnate trooper was hacked to death by 
tomahawks before be oould &ee himself from his animal. 



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Heanwhile the driver unhitched the leading horse, and 
galloped off with the two remainiog troopeTS, leaving the 
oart and ratione to be plundered by the enemy. 

This affair took place within eyesight of tbe oamp. The 
contingent and Buah Bangers tamed oat at once and don bled 
up to the scene of aotion, only to find Haggarty's body, for 
the HauhauB had disappeared into ttie Keteonetea baah, 
taking with them the horae and proviEionB, Haggarty's 
death brought about one of thoae amuaing inetanoes of 
want of military knowledge bo often noticed among colo- 
nial o£QoerB in the early days. Colonel McDonndl had 
issued an order that not less than ten troopers should form 
the escort of the ration-cart, consequently the captain 
who sent the three men had committed a serious breach of 
discipline. McDonnell was absent at the time, bat the 
eealous officer in charge (another captain), without the 
smallest right to do so, assembled a court martial of 
ensigns and lieutenants, to try their senior officer; and 
they, supremely unoonscioas of the absardity of the whole 
a&ir, not only foand the captain guilty of neglect, bnt 
sentenced him to be dismissed the service ; at least the 
finding amonnted to the same thit^. 

I need hardly say that the finding of the court was not 
sustained by the defence minister. 

On the following day a sham escort vras sent out, to 
deceive the Hsohaus, who were known to be on the look-out 
for another victim. While this party saantered carelessly 
along the road, another was sent into the bush by a long 
dStour, and, as they expected, surprised a small body of 
HauhauB who were watching the supposed escort. One of 
them waa shot, and little Winiata, to square thtngB in 
accordance with Maori ideas of right and justice, dealt him 
the same number of tomahawk cuts that poor Haggarty 
had received, and conceived a very low opinion of the 
Pakehas becanse they rebuked him. When Colonel 
McDonnell received intelligence of the attack on the 
oonvoy he determined, even with the limited force at his 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



WAB Df NEW ZEALAND. 129 

disposal, to give the Haabaun a lemon they shoald Dot 
eaaily fot^t. On the let of October he started with 1 ] 3 
men of all ranks, and inarched in the direction of the 
Waingongoro redonbt, with the purpose of throwing the 
enemy's Boonts off the Boent. About 10 p.u. the column left 
the redonbt, croBsed the river, and marched inland for the 
Mawhitiwbiti pah. On reaching this deserted settlement 
a well-worn track was found leading into the bosh, this 
was followed by the force until it entered a small clearing, 
where the men were ordered to lie down and await tlie 
dawD, which was not &r off. While they were anxiously 
awaiting the order to move, the crowing of cocks about a 
mile inland gave McDonnell the information he required 
as to the position of the Hauhan village, so he pushed 
forward immediately, and just as day was breaking rpiaobed 
the entrance to a long narrow cleAring named Te Pnnga- 
rehn, througbont the whole length of which whares were 
to be seen. This rendered it impossible to surround the 
enemy, bnt promptitude in war can do a great deal ; the 
men received orders to advance qaietly bnt rapidly, leaving 
a few men to guard the door of eaoh whaie aa they passed, 
and if possible to reach the f^irthermost one before the 
alarm was given. 

The men moved on with a rnsh, and stopped the dooffi 
of the huts so qniokly, that althou^ they were heard, and 
the alarm given, few of the enemy escaped. The arrange- 
ment was admirably planned and carried out. There was 
no contusion ; the men with cocked rifles guarded the 
doorways and awaited orders, while McDonnell, Bt«pping 
in front of the largest and most central whare, called 
out to the Hauhaus that they were all surrounded, and 
desired them to choose quickly whether they would sur- 
render as prisoners of war, or be shot. The answer, 
admirable for its brevity, was a volley from the doors 
and windows of the hnts, which wounded some of our 
men ; but it was also a volley fired over their own 
graves, for our men, appreciating the advantage of their 
K 

L, ,z,;i.,C00gIC 



130 REMINI8CENCEe OP THE 

position, went in for the fight in earnest, and fired the 
buta. In a few momenta the sharp crack of the riSes, the 
yells of the combatants, and smoke and fire of the burning 
whares, transformed the quiet village into a perfect 
pandemonium. The ranpo whares burnt like tinder, and 
the Hanhaus had to run the gauntlet ; twenty yards was 
the utmost length of their tether, few went beyond it, 
and none escaped. Unfortunately all of the whares were 
not built of raupo, one or two were whurejiuni, built of 
slabs and covered with earth, out of which it was not easy 
to dislodge the ooonpants. Farrier-Majur Duff, one of the 
bravext men in the force, tried to enter the door, and fired 
his revolver several times Inside; but was mortally 
wounded while doing so. The only way to get at them was 
by di^ng, so the force went to work with a will, and 
bad nearly accomplished their task, when a volley was 
fired into them from three sides of the ctearing, by the 
main body of the Hanhaus from Te Ngutu o te mann, 
who, alarmed by the firing, had arrived too late to save 
their friends, but soon enough to make us very nncom- 
fortable for our line of retreat. No time was to be lost, 
so McDonnell made overtures to the men inside the 
wharepuni, and promised to spare them if they suirendered. 
One man came out on the strength of this promise, and 
was fairly lifted off his feet by a volley fired by a few 
of the contingent who were standing near. This act 
of treachery enraged UcDonnell, and his anger was so 
genuine that the remainder, undismayed by the fate of 
their compatriot, came out and surrendered. Meanwhile 
the Hanhaus were pressing us hard, and bad sncceeded 
in cutting off retreat by the track we bad followed on 
entering the clearing. To have forced the position 
would have entailed great risk, as they had possessi'in of 
the fallen timber ; under these circumtttances McDonnell, 
who was seldom at loss, asked bis prisoners if there was 
not another track leading to the opes country, assuring 
them at the same time that if he lost many men he should 

DiqilizDdbyGoOgIC ■ 



WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 131 

not be able to save bis captiTM. Tbu had tbe desired 
effect, tbey not only said there iv&s another track, but 
offered to act aa guides. The difficulty was to get out of 
the clearing ; bnt the men ivere used to the work. One 
half the force waa extended along the edge of the buah to 
keep the Hauhans in check, while the others removed 
tbe killed, wounded, and prisoners to a place of safely. 
This was a work of great danger, partiunlarly in the 
case of poor Buff, who had fallen at the upper end of 
the clearing, now oompletely in the enemy's pooaeahion. 
He was only brought off by downright pluck, two men 
being wounded in the attempt. Ensign Northoroft par- 
ticularly distingnished himself in the attempt. 80 soon 
as the wounded, now seven in number, were placed in 
safety, UoDonnell directed Captains Newland and Kepa, 
with thirty men, to form the rear guard, and give tiie 
main body time to oariy out the wounded. Ensign 
Poma of the contingent, and Northcroft also, remained 
with the rear guard, and both behaved gallantly. Cover- 
ring the retreat was the most arduous port of the day's 
fighting, fur with 150 Hanbaus closing in on them, this 
brave little band held their ground, and allowed the main 
body to draw off quietly, carrying the wounded in 
blankets, meanwhile the rear guaid, oloeely pressed, fell 
back from tree to tree, until they arrived at the edge 
of a deep ravine, where they made a determined stand. 

While holding this position, Ensign Foma happened to 
notice an open space among the trees, and suspected 
rightly that it was a clearing and that the enemy wonld 
take advantage of it to turn our flank. He accordingly 
took six of his men and had just reached the plantation 
when fifteen Uauhaus sprang over the fence and ran across 
the clearing straight for Poma's men, who wisely held 
their fire until the enemy were within fifteen 3'ards, and 
then shot four of them. The remainder retired double 
quick, closely followed by Poma, who tomahawked the 
£illen, and carried off their arms. This check seemed to 



132 BEBONISCENCES OF THE 

Bioken the Hauhans, u thej oeased from thftt tnomeot to 
press upon the rear guard, vho retired niowly and rejoined 
the main body in tbe open oonntiy. Enngn Nortboroit 
distin^ished himself partionlarly thxongbont the whole 
fight, and hoa sinoe been reoommended for the New Zea- 
land oroes. Volnnteers BnshtoD and White were also fxia- 
ipicaouB for their bravery. 

These men had been aergeantfi in the Fate& Bangers; 
disgasted with the treatment their oompany had received 
they had resigned with tbe rest, but continued to serve 
without pay rather than desert old comrades. Kuahton 
had one bnllet through his coat, and another smashed tbe 
stock of his carbine ; White was a man of singularly quiet - 
courage, and when, some years after, be fell mortally 
wounded in the Whakatane river, his loss was mourned 
by the whole force. Onoe in the open country, the force 
halted and made stietchere to carry the wounded, and, 
aSt& a short rest, returned to Waingongoro, where they 
were kindly received by Captain Noblett and bis detain- 
ment of the 16th Regiment. Dr. Spenoer relieved our 
fiui^eon of the care of the wounded, and took tbem into 
hospital, where three of them died within an hour. 

For the numbers eng^ed, this skirmteh was the most 
disBstrouB ever fought by the Ngaruabini tribe ; they ac- 
knowledged having twenty-seven men killed, and we had 
seven able-bodied prisoners. About thirty stand of arms 
were either brought away or destroyed, and much valuable 
property, indnding k^p of powder, was burnt. Tbe 
moral effect of this fight on the Hauhana was profound ; 
not only had they lost one-fifth of the fighting men of 
the tribe, but they had been foiled by their own peouliar 
tactics. Attacked at grey dawn far in the bush, where 
the Fokehas had never trod berore, oonseqnently could not 
have known of the existence of the village, tbey were 
surprised in the whares, and shot down with but small 
chance of retaliation. In this affair one is at loss which 
to admire moet ; the boldness whioh oonoeived the idea of 



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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 133 

ponetTating into the midst of the enemy with so small a 
force, the skill displayed in carrying out the plan, the 
masterly manneT in which the force when crippled by the 
loss of eight men was extrioated from the bueh, in preeence 
of an enemy superior in nambers, and who possessed the 
inestimable advantage of knowing every inch of the ground, 
or the steady coolness of the rear guard, in a position 
where the smallest mistake would have brought the enemy 
charging down upon them in overwhelming numbers. 

The danger of entering the bush with a small or untried 
foroe consists chiefly in tJii», that one wounded man will 
take at least six men to carry him off, and if the enemy is 
enterprising, some of the stretcher parties are almost cer- 
tain to be hit, as they offer a good mark to the well con- 
cealed Maori ; thus e^ht or ten casualties will oripple a 
force of 100 men. If the men are untried, a panic will 
almost certainly ensue, for the men can see the effect of 
the enemy's bullets, but not the effect of their own ; and 
the singularly savage war-cries of the Maori are more 
effective in the bush than elsewhere. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 
COLONEL hoDONnell'b cahpaion — cwUinued. 

TE UMU, POPOIA, TIROTIROMOANA, ROTORUA. 
Toi and Titokowaru, the leading chie& of Ngaruahini, 
were now greatly alarmed for their future safety. The^ 
argued correctly that what had happened might well 
happen again ; from such an enemy no place was secure. 
In faot, they strongly objected to their own tactics being 
need against them, and this feeling fouad utterance shortly 
after, when Toi said to McDonnell, " We thought we were 
fighting against a man, but find he is a rat who moves 
only by night." " No," replied McDonnell; " yon thought 



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134 EEMINI8CENCES OF THE 

we were Boldiers, mid find that we are Fakeha Uooriea. 
The end U not yet, Toi." On the 13th a reioforoement of 
Maori Tolunteerx arrived from Wangantii, and later in the 
day a small party of Titokowam's people oame into Waihi 
camp, saying that they had swum the Waingongoro with 
the news that the whole tribe would Huirender when the 
freshet euhsided. A few days after, Toi and twelve men 
airived. This was not what we bad expected, and they 
received scant welcome. McDonnell told them to return, 
that he did not want to Bee a few men ; if the whole 
tribe, men, women, and children oame, he would welcome 
them, but would not have spies in bis camp. Toi returned, 
but ax of his men refused to accompany him, and re- 
quested permission to remain with ne. Their leader, Eatene 
(a first-rate fighting man), said, "I have tried to do my 
best for the tribe. When I lead them into a fight they do 
not back me up; and when I told tbetn that tbe Pungarehu 
would one day be surprised, they laughed at me, and now- 
those men are dead. I am sick of tfae whole thing, 1 shall 
stay with the Pakeha." He did stay, and his people of 
the Umutahi bapu gradually joined him, until they num- 
bered at least seventy men, women, and children ; but three 
hapns still held aloof, viz., Te Ahitahi, Te Mamihiakai, 
and Te Hinuawai. The first of these three hapua, or 
femilies, lived apart from the others, and had not suffered at 
the Pungarehu, therefore, McDonnell turned his attention to 
them, and on thol7tb started with nearly two hundred men 
to attack Te Umn pah, which was situated on the Tarai..ii 
track, in rear of the mountain, lliey, however, had taken 
vraming by the fete of their tribe in the last fight, 
and had sentries posted everywhere, who gave the alarm 
when onrmen were within 200 yards of the village. So 
soon as we were discovered, McDonnell gave the order to 
charge ; the column dashed forward and opened fire upon 
the fugitives, killing two men and capturing one old nan. 
On looting the ^rhares twelve guns were found which had 
been left behind in the stampede. 



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WAR IS NEW ZEALAND. 135 

As the column retired, the enemy, with their usoal tactics, 
followed, and opened fire, which ottased Eoiue conliiBioa 
among the rear guard, who had not expected it, but they 
were quickly driven back by our Bkirmishere, and the force 
returned without further molestation. On the following 
night, Captain Newland received orders to take 100 men 
and attack the Kgatitupaea tribe, who were supposed to 
be living in the neighbourhood of Keteonetea, at a village 
named Popoia. The column started at 3 1 p.m., and were 
guided by our late enemy, Katene, who, upon reaching the 
edge of the forest, recommended ns to lie down in silence 
aod await the dawn, as he did not consider it advisable to 
enter the bush in such darkness. Captain Newland sgreed 
with him, and called a halt ; after wuiting an hour ur two. 
Captain W. McDonnell induced Newland to move forward, 
which was done, aguiust the better judgment of the remuin- 
iTig officers and men. The force advanced in single file 
along the track, althongh it was ho dark that a man could 
not see his comrade in front, when suddenly, from the 
front and right flank, a volley was fired into our leading 
filee, lighting up the bush with streams of Are. The lead- 
ing files fell back upon the main body; Captain McDonnell, 
who was leading, fell severely wounded in the track, and 
in the darkness would have been left, bad not our 'guide 
missed him and reported his fall, within a few yards of 
the ambush. Volunteer White at once dashed forward 
and brought him back. The mistake made in entering the 
fouset before dawn was now apparent to al],forthecolamn, 
checked by ihe volley, unable to see their enemy, or move 
on, remained kneeling in the track ; luckily the Hauhaua 
were in much the same condition, they had only a general 
idea of our direction, and their bullets flew over our heads. 

Nothing was left us but a hahty retreitt, and Captain 
Newland gave the order reluctantly ; we reached the open 
country at grey dawn, closely followed by the enemy, who 
fired volleys from the edge of the bush. The gallant little 
Wiuiata of the contingent was much troubled in his mind 

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136 BEHIKraCENCEB OF THE 

by these volleya. " It ie a challenge fur as to go and fight 
them," wid he, " If something is not done we shall be dis- 
graced ; I will go and defy them." Fortliwith bis soanty 
clothing came off, and in an aliirming atate of nature be 
went zigzagging down the track, in the most approved 
Uaori style, until within 100 yards of the enemy, when 
he baited, and with gestures more forcible than polite, 
challenged tbem to come out and fi(i;ht in the open. The 
enemy made no sign beyond firing at him. and Winiata 
returned covered with glory. "Kever mind onr retreat," 
said the old men ; " the Hanbans are beaten, they dare not 
aocepfWiniata'a challenge." Captain McDonnell, onr only 
ounalty, was found to be dangerously wounded ; the ballet 
had entered near the groin, smashing the bip bones, and for 
many months it was not expected that be would survive the 
injuries, but an nnusually xtrung constitution pulled him 
through. 

Many months after, when Ngatitupaea had surrendered 
and were living peacefully at Eeteonetea, we learnt how 
it was that we had received such a warm reception in the 
buab at Fopoia. Te Marau aaid, " Our hearts were uneasy 
at the &te of the Pungarehu, and we determined to watdi 
in turns ; I and two others were the soouia that night, bo 
we walked down the track to Eeleonetea, meaning to ftay 
Ihere until daybi'eak. We had just got outside the bush 
when a voice said in Maori, close to me, ' Where is Te 
Kepa.' My heart stood still, for I knew I was in thu 
midst of a war party ; then the thoaght xtnick me, they 
think I am one of them, so I replied, ' I do not know,' 
and walked slowly away until I got some distance from 
them ; I then ran and awakened the people of my village. 
The women and children took to the bunh, but the men 
came with me to the place where we had felled tree-i 
across the track. There we fired upon you, and it was 
well you did not attempt to charge over them in the 
dark." From the &ilure of the last two expeditions, it 
was evident to those versed in Maori matters that oar 

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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 137 

raid at Te Pnngareha had placed the other tribes on their 
gaard, and that there would be bnt small chanoe of 
Baocem for some time to oome. Had MoDonnell followed 
hie own iuclinations, the force would have remained 
inaotive for at least a month, until the enemy, relaxed 
their vigilance, when the Pnogarehu might have been 
repeated. But news having arrived that hia Ezoellenoy 
Sir George Grey intended to viait us and direct opera- 
tions, it was neoeesary to do something more. Sir Qeoi^ 
arrived on the 22nd of October, and immediately ordered the 
available men of the 18th Begiment to Waihi, with the 
view of attaoking Fopoia. Colonel Booke of the above 
regiment, who oommanded the column, advanced by the 
track taken on the previona oocasion, and was fited at 
from the aame barricade of trees ; bnt this time there was 
daylight, and the order to charge being given, the imperial 
and colonial forces swarmed over the barricade after the 
retreating Hauhaus, who made themselves scarce in a 
wonderfully short space of time. The loss to the colonial 
foroes was one killed and one wounded, the soldiers 
escaped soot &ee ; but the Hauhaus lost two men, and 
had their vill^e burnt. On the following day our guide, 
Katene, told McDonnell that a great fighting man of 
Titokowam's tribe (Te Waka) would visit Keteonetea that 
day, and proposed that he shoold meet him and draw him 
into an ambush by promising to show him where he had 
hidden some peroussion-capM, which he would pretend 
were stolen from the Fakeha. UcBonnell, only too glad 
to gain possession of so formidable a foe, ounsented, and 
allowed him to lake twenty men to form the ambnsh. 
The men were duly hidden on the track, while Eatene 
and his brother went on to the semi-friendly pah of 
Mawhitiwhiti, where they met Te Waka, who reprcaohed 
the former for having joined the Fakeha, and fought 
against his own people. " Fish I" said £atene. " The 
Pakehas are fools, and I have more brains than you have. 
In one month I shall steal more ammunition than I can 



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138 BEMINISCESCE8 OF THE 

upo in two yean ; then I shall retom to you. If yon 
disbelieve me, come, and I will bIiow you a thoueand oapx I 
have stolen alieady." Te Waka, like all Maoriee, was 
greedy for ammanition, and fell into the trap ; he followed 
the treaoherona BConndrelB nntil within ten yards of the 
amhush, when enddenly Eatene seized his gan, while Ma 
brother seized the tomahawk, at the same time culling on 
the ambnah to fire. Te Waka, too late, saw he waa loet, 
and turned to fly. One more Btride and he would have 
slid over the Bteep cliff into the river, and probably have 
escaped; bat just then one of the ambaeh fired, and 
Te Waka, with a convulsive spring, boanded over the 
precipice and fell dead on the river-bed. Katene was 
asked why he had taken the gun instead of the man, as 
he had been instnicted. " In that case," he replied, " you 
would have saved him. I wanted him killed, for he had 
done me an injury." One more attempt was made to 
surprise the Hauhaus ; information had been received that 
the i'opoia tribe, after the destruction of their village, had 
retired to an inland pah, Tirotiromoana, and were living 
there in force. McDonnell, thinking that he might have 
a chance of success if he made a long detour and attacked 
the position from the rear, started at midnight, and was 
some miles in the bush before daybreak. Fur hours the 
force marched over a lightly- timbered, level country, 
direoUy inland of Keteonetea, and about 2 P.u. were well 
inland of the position. Shortly afier the advanced guard 
fell in with two Hauhaus, whom they afterwards beard 
were on their way to Te Ngaehere, a settlement &r inland. 
Our leading files fired hastily and without effect, and the 
two rebels euoceedcd in making their escape. This 
untoward event precluded all chance of success; but 
McDonnell pushed his men forward, crossed a deep ravine, 
and was in the act of mounting the opposite hill, when 
the advanoed guard were fired on by an ambuscade, 
and Private Eoonomedes (a Greek), one of the best men in 
the force, fell dead. Nothing stagers men so much as an 

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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 139 

ambiiflh. For some momenta there was great oonfnsion 
among tbe yonug hands ; but the order to charge brought 
them to their Benses, they dashed up the hill, entered the 
Tillage, and found it deserted.. 

About a mile off, aud on the opposite lange, an- 
other clearing oould be seen with a large body of tie 
enemy, who had evidently been roused by the firing, aud 
were watching operations as well as the distance would 
permit. KoDonnell would have attacked these Uauhaus, 
but found his men too tired and disheartened by their 
failure to be osefiil ; under these oircumstancee he gave the 
order to return to Waihi, which camp was reached by the 
column about 6 p.m., after eighteen hours' oontinnous 
marching. A very curious incident, illustrative of the 
Haori character, occurred during this expedition. \\'iniata, 
bravest of the brave, keptreaolutely in rear of the column; 
his character as a fighting man was so well known, that 
hia behaviour attracted some notice, and an ofBoer asked 
him the reason of it. He replied, " I dreamt last night 
that I was leading the advanoed guard as uaual, and that 
I was killed by a volley from an ambush, I felt the bullet 
hit me; it went in at one btp, and came out near the 
other." Ko further notice was taken of hia dream until 
Economedes fell, when Winiata mehed forward, examined 
hia wound, and found it to be just as he had described. 
" Look I" aaid he, " this man is killed by the bullet I 
dreamt of. This is the first time that he has been the 
leading file, I have always led on other occasions: my 
dream haa aaved my life." After this incident no one 
doubted that Winiata had a very strong god of hia own. 

Several other small czpeditiona were undertaken, but 
with little benefit to the public service, for the villages 
were found deserted, and it was obvious that the Hauhaus 
had retreated far inland. Some of Titokowaru's tribe had 
taken shelter with Wiremu King! at Ngalimam, inland 
of the Waitara, while Ngatitupnea retired to their alm<et 
mythical stronghold of Te Ngaehere, which, irom native 



140 BEHINISCBNCB8 OF THE 

scoonnts, was supposed to be impregnable. And it 
certainly was a strong position, as Colonel \VliitnioFe 
found when he attacked it in January, 1869, and orosMod 
his men over a tinndred yards of quaking bog on supplejack 
hurdles. Colonel HcDonnell did not deem it advisafale to 
attack these latter places, so the 18th Begiment retnmed 
to their stations, the native allies wera sent back to 
Wanganui, and the military Bottler portion of the force 
were employed for some months in the peaceful but 
wearisome work of guarding survey parties. There being 
no immediate prospect of a renewal of hostilities on the 
west coast, Colonel UcDonnell received orders to proceed 
to the BayofPlenty, to take charge of the Arawa friendlies 
in a campaign against the Ngatimnkawa Hauhaus, who 
were then threatening to attack Botoma. The campaign 
was oommenced by Lien tenant-Colonel St. John, who, 
with a strong force of militia and Arawas, searched in 
vain for the enemy, and finally gave up chase, oonolnding 
that they had cleared out of the district. 

Under this impression he retamed to Tanranga with 
the European portion of his force, leaving McDonnell and 
the Arawas at Botoma. That same evening the latter 
officer commenced his operations by marching for the 
enemy's country, and at daybreak came upon their outpost, 
killing two men and capturing another. From the prisoner 
it was learnt that the main body of the Hauhaus were at 
no great distanoe, and they also were surprised, and lost 
nine men. These sharp skirmishes proved enough for 
the enemy, who gave no further trouble. Tlie Araws 
pretended to be very anxions to attack Woikato; but 
Colonel Haiiltain, who understood the Arawa mind, 
refused to allow the movement, satinfied with the peaoe 
obtained at Botoma. Colonel HcDonnell returned to the 
west roast, and resumed command of that district, which 
was soon to be the scene of murders and war, under the 
leadership of Titokowarn. 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

SSIBMI8HE3 ON THE EAST OOABT. 

WONDERFUL ESCAPE OF WILKINSON AKD LIVINGSTONE. 

MUKDER OF MOORE AND BE0O8. 

The year 1665 had seen th« neok of the Haori rebellion 
pretty well broken. The Hanbada of Taranaki, Te Wairoa, 
Tnraoga, and Waiapu bad been tboronghly beaten. At 
Opotiki and Taantnga, the large majority of the Hanbans 
had surrendered; bnt at these places there were still 
roTing bands of the most daring nien of their tribes, who 
kaving been more or less connected with the mTuders of 
Messrs. Volckner and Fnlloon, preferred to remain in arms, 
and maintain a desultury warfare against their European 
and llaori foes. 

During 1866 and 1867, Opotiki was in a chronic state 
of small skirmiehes ; while at Tanranga, the Firirakan 
tribe kept the settlement in a stale of excitement and 
alarm, by several unprovoked morders. A section of the 
Waikato tribe also threatened Sotorua, to the great terror 
of the Arawa, until Colonel HoDonnell took command of 
them, aod decisively settled the Waikato pretensions in 
the first skirmiisb. 

The province of Hawkes Bay, which had hitheirto been 
free from native disturbances, had also its fight; one 
of so decisive a nature, that beyond giving thn peaoefol 
citizens an opportunity of winning laurels, it scarcely 
interfered with the ordinary course of events. 

After the surrender of the Kgatirua hapu of the Opotiki 
tribe in October, 1865, and the seizure and trial of those 
concerned in the murders of Messrs. Volckner and Fnlloon, 
it was generally supposed that peace would ensue. But 
there st^ remained the Ngatiira hapa, under their chief 



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142 BEMINI8CENCE8 OF THE 

Hira Te Popo, who, contrary to the general expectation, 
steadily resisted all attempts at conoiliation. His ob- 
stinacy was the more snrpriBing, that few men bore a 
higher character among the Uaoriee; and it was well 
known that he had opposed the murder of the Ser. Mr. 
Volckner, at a time when the whole of the Whakatohea 
had doomed that gentleman to die. The history of the 
Ngatiira has been an eventful one ; thej appear to have 
been one of the old oi-iginal tribes, and at one time held 
nearly all the conntry now in pOBSesKion of Ngatiporou. 

They were, however, almost exterminated, and the sur- 
vivors of them, driven back into ihe bush ranges towards 
Opotiki by the Tuwhakairiora and Waiapu people, are now 
only known in that district by the names of their numerous 
old pahs and by a few descendants, the result of inter- 
marriage with Ngatiporou. 

Ngatiira in itself wonld hardly have troubled ns, bnt 
they were supported by their relations, a section of the 
Poverty Bay tribe, and by the Ngaitama Uriwera under 
^'amaikowfaa. This rendered them formidable, when their 
style of warfare is considered, and made any attempt at 
settlement impossible. Colonel Lyon, then in charge of 
the district, was indefatigable in his endeavours to clear 
out this neat of Hauhaus, whose headquarters were in the 
Otara and Waioekagoi^es. Many expeditions were under- 
taken in the difficult and dangerous country lying between 
the Oetara and Waimana rivers ; but it will be sufficient 
to notice those only in which the force succeeded in 
meeting their enemy. The firat successful skirmish took 
place during the month of February, 1866, when a column 
of 200 men marched up the Waioeka gorge in search of an 
enemy. 

The Hauhans were found at the Eopani village, and 
were completely surprised ; they attempted to escape by 
croBsing the river in their canoes, and the Arawas, who 
formed our advanced guard, fired upon them while so doing, 
but without effect. The enemy would have escaped, had 

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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 143 

not tho Patea Kangers forded the river up to their anupita, 
and in a runniiLg fight killed fire of their foee. Colonel 
Lyon had intended to follow the river to its souroe, bat 
the weather became bo tbreatening that he ordered an 
immediate retreat, fearing lest be should be overtaken 
by a freshet while within the gorge. About a month 
later, when it waa supposed that the enemy had recovered 
their usual feeling of security, another expedition was 
undertaken, and again they were found at Te Kopani, and 
two of them killed. The survivors retreated up the river, 
followed by our men to Eairakau, where they made a 
stand. The village of Eairakau was built in a very 
strong position on a cliff in a bend of the river, and oonld 
only be attacked by crossing the river-bed under the 
enemy's fire. 

A detachment was sent to attraot the attention of the 
Hauhaos by marching up the river-bed, while the Patea 
and Wanganui Rangers were ordered to take a ehort cut 
across a bend of the river, under cover of the scrub, cross 
immediately under the pah, and scale the cliff. So soon 
as our men appeared on the open river-bed the Hanhaus 
opened a plunging fire, but without effect, for Captain 
Newland, calling on his men, carried the position with 
a i-nsh, to the great discomfiture of the enemy, who fied, 
pursued by the Bangers, and lost four men in a long 
running fight. Piles of loot, oaeks of powder, new saddles, 
valuable Maori mats, in fact all the property of which the 
Opotiki settlers had been plundered, was retaken in this 
village. Nothing farther was done during this expedition ; 
but after the return to Opotiki, the Ngaitama Uriwera 
under Tamaikowha sought utu for the death of their 
friends, by laying an ambuscade at the Waiotahi, and 
killed Wi Fopata the Arawa mailman. Captain Newland 
had a narrow escape from the same party, and only just 
crossed the-Ohiwa in time to elude them. 

Up to this time, all our energies had been directed 
against the Waioeka gorge, but, about this period, Colonel 

L, ,z,;i.,C00gIC 



144 BEBONISCENCES OF THE 

Lyon reoeived inrormatioD that the Hanhana were in cont' 
munication with the semi-irieDdly natiTes living in 
Opotiki. 

A Maori entering camp was §topped and searched, and 
on him was fonnd a letter to the chief Tiwai, informing 
him that the Hanhaua wonld meet him next day in the 
Otara got^. Both the mesaenger and the chief were 
placed in dnranaevile; and about midnight sixty men under 
Lieutenanta O'Callaghan and Northoroft started for the 
aoene of action, taking with them Tiwai aa guide. About 
an hoar before daylight a small native village was at- 
taoked, and two men were shot; the detachment then ad- 
vanood upon another Eainga village, but the inhabitants 
had evidently been alarmed by the firing, for the plaoa 
was deserted, though it had been reoently occupied. 
Further snoceas was now considered impossible, as the 
fugitives had probably alarmed the whole river ; neverthe- 
less, the men still advanced, and shortly before dawn their 
perseverance was rewarded by one of the advanced gnard 
observing a large where. At the same moment the dogs 
gave the alarm, and the door opened ; but too late to save 
the inmatea, for our men had the place surrounded, and 
Lieutenant Northcroft burst open the door. This oCBi-er 
had a very narrow escape while so doing, for the Hauhaue 
fired through the door while he was in the act of bursting 
it open, and the splinters of wood wounded him in the 
bee. This did not, however, deter him from entering 
through the narrow opening, followed by two or three of 
his men; here they found twelve Hauhaua, who, un 
daunted by their almost certain fate, were reloading their 
guns. Northoroft snapped his revolver at tbem, but like 
others of its kind, it refused to gooff; it had, however, the 
effect of quieting the enemy, who offered their guns in 
token of submisaion. This act in itself would hardly 
have saved men who had probably taken part in the 
murder of Hr Volckner; but a woman completed the 
softening process by dinging to Northcroft's kneea, when 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 14fi 

she thought he intended to Bhoot her hnsbend. For some 
time &fter these events, things vere more peacefol, and the 
uulitarj settlers were placed npoQ their land. Some few 
of these men eettlod down with the firm intention of 
making a permanent home for themselvee and families, 
but a latge majority sold their claims to speculators, or to 
intending settlers, willing to brave the dangers of oocnpa- 
tion, provided they could get cheap land. Among others 
who bought in this manner ware Uessrs. Livingstone and 
Wilkinson (the latter is now native interpreter at the 
Thames) ; these gentlemen went to work with a will, and, 
in May 1867, had built a house on their property near the 
entrance to the Waioeka gorge. Two other settlers, 
Moore and Beggs, who owned the adjoining property, lived 
in the same house, on the principle of there being safety 
in numbers. Snch was the position of affairs in the 
Opotiki district, on the 23rd May, 1867, on which day 
the settlers were confined to their honses by torrents of 
rain, llie four gentlemen above named, finding it im- 
possible lo work in such weather, decided to pass the time 
by playing cribbage, and were soon deeply immersed in 
the game. So much was their attention taken up, that no 
heed was given to the barking of their dog, who was 
evidently annoyed at the approach of strangers i at last, 
however, the continued barking drew the attention of the 
players; when Moore rose and looked out of the window. 
What he saw did not appear to surprise him, for be merely 
remarked that there were some natives about ; this was 
explained by Wilkinson, who suggested that they were 
friendly Whahatoheas, hunting up their horses. This 
seemed likely enough, and play was resumed ; but had the 
party known what a fearful death was in store for some 
of them, the game wuuld hardly have been continued. 
Again the dog barks; onoe again Moore rises; but this 
time his attention is arreatod, and he excitedly remarks, 
that a number of Maories appear to be surrounding the 
house; every one rises hastily, and weU they may, for 

L 

DiqilizDdbyGoOgle 



146 REMINISCENCES OF THE 

there can be no doubt of the intentions of those hftlf- 
naked silent men, who are stealthily Bnrraunding the 
place. The road to Opotiki has been already cut off, and 
what was a few moments befoi'O a qniet game of cards ie now 
a game of life and death, with fearful odds gainst the four. 
The Hauhaus, more than ten to one in number, and well 
armed, are already within twenty-flTe yards of the house ; 
the situation would hare been trying even for armed men, 
but these were not so fortunate ; they certainly had 
rifles, but, in the hour of need, it is found that they do 
not possess a single cartridge, and only one of the rifles 
is loaded. Nothing can now save them, but to run 
the gauntlet ; to remain in the house is certain death ; 
so, clutching their empty rifles, they open the door and 
mn round the end of the house. Up to this time not a 
word had been uttered by the enemy, but as the Europeans 
make their appearance, a loud yeU is laised, and the 
kokiritia (charge) Eounds like a dealh-knell to the ears of 
the doomed men. The back of the house has not yet 
hoen surrounded, and the fugitives take advantage of 
the opening, and dash through ; some of the enemy have, 
however, taken possession of a blind ditch, flanking the 
lino of retreat, and past these men our friends run, re- 
ceiving a volley as they do ao, but without effect. A 
yell from the Hauhaus proclaims their want of success, 
and the fugitives make for the steep fern-iidge, with the 
intention of gaining the shelter of the btiKh which crowned 
the summit. Every nerve ia strained to effect this end, 
but the odds against thejn are too great, for they are 
encumbered by clothes, now saturated by the wet fern, 
whilst the enemy, nearly naked, i-un like deei, and are 
fust overh&uHijg their prey. The edge of the forest 
has been nearly gained, when the foremost of the enemy 
comes up ; some sort of a stand must now be made, and 
Uoore, who has the loaded rifle, and is running last, 
turns and levels his rifle at the nearest Hauhau ; but in 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 147 

vain, for the solitary charge, on which so mnoh dependod, 
fails to explode, and Moore is at the mercy of his foes. 
Two or three of them make for him while the remainder 
coDtiDae the pnrsuit after his comrades, who are by this 
time in the shelter of the bush. A oorrect account can 
hardlybegivenofwhat afterwards occurred, even by those 
who participated in the affair. Moore, it seems, reversed 
his rifle, and presented the butt to his foes, as a token of 
submission ; but this aotion availed him uothing, for he 
was immediately shot. 'Wilkinson and Livingstone, closely 
pursued, dashed headlong down a steep bnsh gnlley ; but 
without Beggs, whom, it was afterwards discovered, had 
been overtaken and tomahawked. The two sarvivorB 
made their way through thb dense nndet^rowth, at a pace 
that would have done credit to the Maories themselves ; 
their guns, now useless, were thrown away, and it was 
more than ever a race for life. Volley after volley was 
fired at them ; but the dense natnre of the New Zealand 
bnsh renders all chance of being bit, except by a chance 
shot, very remote ; their great danger lay in being over- 
taken, and this seemed probable enough, for the hard run- 
ning and high action necessary in springing over roots and 
eapplejack began to tell, and brought on violent cramp in 
the legs of one of the fugitivee. His companion stood by 
him well, straightening the limbs each time they were 
contracted, and while so engaged, they noticed for the 
first time that the enemy, if they hod not given up the 
pursuit, were certainly left far behind. The first gleam 
of hope that had entered their minds since they ruahed 
from tbe whare now dawned upon them ; and, after going 
a short distance, they stopped to rest, and lay, anxiously 
listening, behind trees. No more shots were fired, nor were 
there sounds of footsteps in pursuit ; they, therefore, felt 
tolerably safe, and, after resting for a short time, struck 
again into the heart of the bush, in the direction of the Otara 
River, and reached that place after some hours of laborious 
L 2 



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148 BEHINI8CENCE8 OF THE 

work. Ail they once more opened ont on tbe Opotikj flat, 
Bmoke was seen to rise from what had onoe been their home ; 
and they knew that months of hard work had been de- 
stroyed in as many minutes. On reaohing camp their tale 
WAS told to Colonel St. John, who at once dispatched the 
Opotiki cavalry and militia to the scene of the ontrage ; 
but, although all haste was mdde, they were too late to 
overlttke the enemy. The wily savage had taken every- 
thing into consideration, and knew well that the heavy 
rain would stop all pnrsuit, by flooding the Waioektk 
Snch was the case, for, when the cavalry arrived at the 
Nlill smouldering house, they found that the enemy had 
crossed the river, which had now risen, and inandated a 
larce portion of the flat oonntry. Everything portable 
had been carried away from the bouse, by means of the 
settlers' horses, and the heavy property was burnt with the 
house. The bodits of Moore and Beggs were not dis- 
covered until some time after, and the sight they then 
presented showed wirh what fearful barbarity they had 
been treated; the eyes had been scooped out, and they 
had been diseni bowel led. After the freshet in the river 
eiibsided, an expedition started for the Uriwera country 
to punish the murderers; two Ilaubans were ebot, and 
some of the horses retaken ; hut the desolate and broken 
nature of the country prevented anything like adequate 
I'hitstisement being inflicted on the rufBans. 



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WAB Dt NEW ZEALAND. 



CHAPTER XXT. 
SEiBHtSHBS OH THE EAST OOABT — eontinued. 

COLONEL ST. JOHN AT OPOTIKI. MURDER OF MR. PITCAIRN. 
A soBT of armed peaoe, varied by oocasioual alarms, followed 
this outrage, and lasted until September in the eame year : 
daring which period, a few of the settlers, undaunted 
by the fate of Moore and Beggs, returned to their farms. 

The Government, extremely anxious that the military 
settlement of Opotiki should prove a success, were un- 
willing to commence hostilities in earnest, trusting that 
the bad feeling between the two races might die out. 
The only measares taken were defensive, and these were 
altogether short of the requirements of the district. The 
erection of two blook-honaes, at the entrances of the Otara 
and Waioeka gorges, was authorized ; but only one could 
be built at a time, as there were not snfBoient men on pay 
in the district to afford a covering party for each work. 
The total effective strength at this period was twenty-seven 
men of all ranks; of these nineteen were stalioned at 
Waioeka and eight in Opotiki, hardly sufficient to supply 
a goard for the magazine at the latter place. The erection 
of the Waioeka blockhouse evidently annoyed the enemy ; 
for, on the 12th of September they made a most daring 
attempt to baru it, before it could be finished and occupied. 
The attack failed, for the contractor with some of the 
garrison of the Lyon redoubt sallied out, drove off the 
enemy, and extinguished the fire before any serious harm 
waa done. About the same time, another strong party of 
Hauhaus, under our quondam ally and guide, Hemi Eakitu, 
oame down the Wbakatane Kiver, and ravaged the country 
of the fnendly Ngatipakoko, carrying off cattle and horsi^s. 
Coloiiel 8t. John proposed to snrprise these men by 
night marches, vift the Waimana to Ruatoki; this plaoe 



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150 EEMDaSCENCES OF THE 

taken, be proposed that the TJtenuku pah should be 
occupied by friendly nativee, thus opponing a permanent 
barrier to Hauhaa raids in that quarter. The plau was 
excellent, and, bad it been uarried out, would probably have 
dealt the enemy a severe blow; but the Govermnent, un- 
willing to give the whole Uriwera tribe a catftt belli, de- 
clined to approve of the operations, and ordered Colonel St. 
John to confine himself to the defence of the Opotiki dJBtrict 
and to keep as few men as was possible for that purpose. 

The efi'ect of this polioy was soon evident ; marauding 
parties of the enemy made their appearauoe about the 
Otara gorge ; the settlers, having a lively recollection of 
past events, deserted their £trma and came into Opotiki, 
where they requested permission to form a volonteer party 
without pay, provided they were allowed to follow up and 
destroy the scouting parties. This somewhat dangerous 
request was refused by Colonel St. John, who had grave 
doubts as to the l^ality of such a force, and his refusal 
was approved by the defence minister, who remarked : 
" It is not only the desire of the Government to avoid 
further hostile operations, if possible, but the progress 
and success of the settlement, and the colony generally, 
depend upon the maintenance of peace ; and, exoept for 
self-defence, no operations are to be undertaken without 
orders &om the Government." 

Under these instructions no steps were taken, and on 
the 8th of January a settler's house at the Otara was burnt 
by a party of hostile natives. This roused Colonel St. 
John to a sense of his danger, and sixteen additional men 
were placed on pay, as a guard over the arms and maga- 
zine. Later in the same month, information was received 
from the semi-friendly Uriwera chief, Eakuraku, that a 
force of 170 men, composed of eight Hapus of the Uriwera, 
had started from the Waimana to attjick Opotiki, or lay 
ambuscades on the Ohiwa Beach ; be also stated that this 
war purty had started in obedience to the command of 
King Tawhiao. On the 23rd this party made their appear- ■ 

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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 151 

anoe on the Ohiwa Beaoh, and laid an ambuscade at their 
faTonrite plaoe, on the Waiotahi Creek ; bat without effect, 
for our people were forewarned, and Colonel St. John, wh^ 
had now 200 men on pay, sent bizty of the moat experienced 
to attack the enemy. These gentlemen did not, however, 
vait the attack, but, after burning the monument erected 
to the memory of the Maori mailman who had been 
mnrdered on thia spot, they hastily retreated to the 
ranges, and crossed into the Waimana valley, where they 
looted cattle and horses, and generally frigbteaed the 
Mendly natives out of their wire. This stale of things 
oould not be allowed to go on, so Colonel St. John, with 
ninety picked men, started froDi Opotiki on the evening 
of the Sth of February, and arrived in the Waimana at 
4 p.H. on the 9tb ; here the men camped nntil midnight, 
when they resnmed their march, and at grey dawn came 
npoa the Hanhan Eaiaga. Colonel St. John was cautionsly 
sorronnding the enemy with eveiy prospect of extermi- 
nating the detachment, when one of his men prematurely 
fired at a Maori, who was unfortunately vidble. This 
roused the Hanhana, and a smart skirmiah took place, 
during which they tost six killed and nine wounded, 
while we bad only two men wounded. When day 
broke sufSciently to admit of distant objects being 
seen, several new viU^es were observed on the adjacent 
hilla, and from one of them fire was opened on the 
Opotiki Rangers, who skirmished towards it through 
the high ferns; but by this time the enemy were 
thoroughly roused, and reinforcements began to arrive so 
bat, that Colonel St. John ordered his men to retire. 
This check did not suffice the enemy, who etill hold their 
ground in the Waimana, and Colonel St. John, after 
consulting Major Mair (civil commissioner) decided to avail 
himself of the authority given him to raise 100 Arawa to 
supplement his force. The Qovemment alao sent Major 
Fraser with his division of constabulary to Opotiki. On 



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11)2 BEMINIBCENCES OF THE 

the 9th of March intelligenoe reached Opotiki that two 
friendly natives of Bakura^Ti's tribe had been murdered at 
Obiwa by the Hauhaus. Colonel St. John started in 
pnrSDit with the Arawas and oonstabulary, and followed 
the enemy's Irail to Hokianga, where one of the mardered 
men was found, dreadfnilj mutilated. The column reached 
the upper Waimana before dawn, and found the enemy 
entrenched upon a Bpur, with the main bush in their rear. 
As itwaa impossible to attack the position before daylight, 
the Colonel halted his men, and bo soon as it wan Eufficiently 
light advanced to the attack. The enemy did not, however, 
care to await the shock, and the position was found to be 
deserted. Having come so far, the Colonel did not care to 
return without accomplishing something ; so, after issuing 
four days' rations to his men, he announced his intention 
of following the Hauhaus to Kaungapohatu. 

The Uriwera had evidently not abandoned the first 
position from fear, for a few miles farther on at Te Ponga 
they were foand barring the wav, and a sharp skirmish 
took place. Major Mair, with the Arawa and Tauranga 
volunteers, led the way, and drove the enemy back, only 
losing one man. This slight resistance inspired the column 
with the hope that tbey would bo able to reach Mannga- 
pohatu : but Colonol St. John had reached the limit of hia 
advance, for the Arawa were as nnual nervous at finding 
themselves in the bush, and declined to go farther. In 
vain Iklajor Hair expostulated ; tbey turned tail and went 
back with great celerity. The Colonel, deserted by his 
guides, was obliged, mnoh against his will, to follow the 
Arawa, who thus, for the twentieth time, were masters 
of the oocaeion, after spoiling an expedition. When 
the retreating Arawa reached the Otara village in the 
Waimana, they surprised a Hanhauan scout, who, mistaking 
them for some of hia own people, called out that he was 
Eereopa'a advance guard, and that they were to prepare 
food for that mfSan. Instead of taking the scout prisoner. 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. IB3 

and so catching the whole party, these idiotic Maoriea 
shot him dead, and thns alarmed the main body who were 
oloee at hand. 

The Arawa jnetified their conduct at Te Fonga, by 
declaring that they dieapproved of operations carried on 
from the Waimaoa side, and maintained that the Matata 
was the proper hase from which hostilities should be 
carried on. Holding these opinions, they were useless to 
an o£Soer whose instructions limited him to pursuit and 
reprisals after outrsgee on the part of the enemy ; they 
were, therefore, disbanded and sent back to their own 
country. For some weeks the Hauhaus remained at the 
entrances of the Waimana and Whakatane goi^^, in the 
hope of obtaining satisfaction for their losses. Seldom 
had BO large a party of Uriwera met with so little success. 
At last they appeared to hare a chance, for some semi- 
friendly natiTes informed them that Major Fraser, who 
was stationed at Whakatane, was in the habit of sending 
out a working party of his men every day to improve the 
roads about his post. Tamaikowha and Heteraka Te 
Whakannna, the most daring of the Hauhan chiefs, led a 
party to surprise these men ; but instead of so doing, they 
encountered a party of the friendly Ngatipukeko, who lost 
six of their guns, and had a man wounded ; but who squared 
accounts by killing one of the Hauhaus. Intelligence of 
this afiair was carried to Colonel St. John, who started 
from Opotiki on the 29th of April, and joined Fraser at 
Whakatane. Here they were detained one day by floods ; 
but on the 1st of Uay, they followed the Hauhau trail to 
Buatoki, and found the place deserted. 

As it was the guide's opinion that the Hauhaos would 
be found at Tunanui or Wuikare Whenua, the column 
marched there next day, following the river-bed, but to 
no purpose, for the enemy, anticipatingpnranit, had retired 
to Buatahuna, and farther advance on our part was out 
short by the river rising suddenly. This obliged our 
men to out their way back through the thick fem and 



154 REMINISCENCES OF THE 

somb on the hill-sides, and was not accomplitibed without 
some days' hard labour. 

The TJriwem had, however, finally retired to their own 
oonntry, disgusted with their want of enccess, and did not 
l^ain trouble ns until March, 1869, just before Te Eooti 
came npon Whakataue, when they murdered Mr Pitcaim 
at Ohiwa, 



CHAPTER XXTI. 
OCTBEEAK AT NAPIEB. 



THE HGHT AT OMARUKUI AND PETASE UNDER COLONEL 
WHITMOKE. 
Until October, 1866, the brunt of the war had fallen 
entirely on the three provinces of Taiaoaki, Auckland, 
and Wellington. Hawkes Bay had escaped ^e murders, 
burnt homesteads, and general destruction of property, 
which had been more or less the fate of the sister provinces, 
eepeoiaUy so in Taranaki, where military incapacity was 
rampant. Why Hawkes Bay bad hitherto escaped, it 
is difficult to say, for the Maori tribes of that province 
were not more peaceably inclined, nor did they lore the 
enterprising Pakeha more than their rebel neighbours 
did I many of them had asaisted the Waikatos, with both 
men and ammunition, against the troops under General 
Cameron. The solution of the riddle laaj probably be 
found in this, that they bad lees to gain, and more to lose 
than other tribes ; they had sold but a small portion of 
their lands, comparatively speaking, to the Government, 
the reet had been leased to varioos Pakebas for sheep- 
runs, generally at a high rental. Another possible reason 
for their keepii^ quiet within their district, is the open 
nature of the country, which is generally free from those 
forests or ravines so essential to the Maori warrior. This 
want would oeoeesitate a style of fighting repugnant to 



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WAR IS NEW ZEALAND. 155 

the feelings of a well-bred Maori ; tiqIbss indeed, he hap- 
pened to be under the influence of fanaticism, or Whakamo- 
mori (desperation), one about as bad aa the other. 

Several of the northern tribes of the province had joined 
the Hauhau religion, notably the Ngatihineuru of Tara- 
wera, and Te Eangihiroa's people ; and as the fact of being 
a Hauhan necessitated deadly enuiity to Europeans, there 
was in the province a volcano, roady at any moment to 
break oat in obedience to the orders of any one of the 
prophets. This outbreak oocurred in October, 1866, when 
the Ngatihineuru, atsisted by disaffected men from other 
tribes, in all one hundred fighting men, suddenly appeared 
at Omarunui, near the Meane village. They were led by 
the chiefs Kikora, Tahau, Kipa, and a fanatical Hauhan 
prophet named Panapa ; their appearance was unmistakably 
hostile, though for some days they remained quietly in the 
village, and did not interfere with the neighbonring 
settlers. Sir Donald McLean, then superintendent of 
Hawkes Bay, sent several messages to them, requesting an 
explanation of their presence, and requiring them to return 
at once (o their own district ; the only reply vouchsafed 
was to the effect that they would not return. Sir Donald 
was evidently forewarned of their intentions, for while 
nsiug all possible means to bring about a peaceful solution 
of the difficulty, he at the same time instructed Colonel 
Whitmore to call out tiie militia for active service, and 
drill them ready for action. He also availed himself of 
Mr. Locke's influence with the well-disposed tribes, and 
desired that gentleman to organize them, with a view to 
taking put in the coming struggle; orders were also sent 
to Major Fraser at Te W&iroa, to hurry np with his 
veteran company of military settlers. 

It was some days before the Meane settlers really 
oomprehended that the Hauhaus meant mischief; the 
saddenneas of the movement, and the apparent absenoe 
of motive, rendered hostilities so unlikely. The chief, 
Nikora, hod hitherto borne a ver; high ofaaracter, and 
bad only a short time previonsly been employed by Hm 



16« BEMDJISCENCEB OP THE 

Goverament to improve the mail-track between Napier 
and Taupo. Te Rangibiroa, who had not as yet appeared 
npon the scene, was a very different man ; turbulent and 
■nspioioTis, one of the first to adopt the Haaban religion, 
and to spread it among the AVairarapa tribes. A man wbo 
hated the Europeans, not bccanse they had injured him, 
hut beoause he saw that the mana of the Uaori race had 
departed, and that henceforth the Pakeha would take the 
lead iu all things. 

Panapa, the real loader, was not a chief by birth, nor 
was he a clever man ; his influence was due solely to the 
power of fanaticism, but this was in itself sufficient to 
make men socially his superiors obey him slayiiihly. 
M^or Fraser and his company, forty stroog, with the chiefs 
Eopu and Ihaka and thirty men, arrived from Te Wairca 
<m the 11th of October, not a day too soon, for by this 
time it was evident that negatialioriH wore useless, and 
that force of arms must decide the queslion. Luckily we 
were now. in a position to dictate terms or fight, as might 
be most expedient; and it was well, for intelligence 
was received that another party of Haubaus, under 
Te Rangihiroa, Anorn Matete, and Paora Toki, were 
advancing by way of Petane, to attack the town from the 
western side of the harbour. To prevent this movement 
in his rear. Colonel Whitmore detached Major Fraser and 
his company to a position in the Petane valley, about twelve 
miles from Xapier, from whence he could watch the Taupo 
tracks, and prevent the threatened movement. At mid- 
night on the 11th of October, Colonel Whitmore, with 180 
men of the local militia, marched from Napier and took 
up a position in &ont of the Omarunui village ; while 
Mr. Locke, with 200 toi-diaant friendly natives, established 
themselves on the edgo of a swamp in rear of the same 
place. A temporary flagstaff was erected, and as day 
broke a white flag was hoisted; Mr. E. Hamlin was then 
sent into the village with Sir Donald's nltimatam to the 
enemy. For some time they took no notice of Hamlin, bnt sat 
glowering in their whares. In faot they were puzzled how 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 157 

to act; they did not intend to Burrender, nor did they wiah 
to fight just then ; wo had taken the initiative and upaet 
their plane. Had To Rangihiroa been ready to operate 
from the western apit, there wunid have been no hesitation 
shown, and Mr. Ilamlin would in all probability have 
been soorificed as an offering to Tu. As it waa, they were 
not prepared, and they finally consented to reoeiTe Sir 
Donald's letter, whioh was to the effect that, if within 
one hour they did not lay down their arms and surrender, 
they would be attacked. This was an extremely bitter 
pill, and the only reply Hamlin could obtain was, that 
the time allowed was short. The pah, or rather village, 
for it was not fortified, was situated on the bank of a 
fordable river, with a swamp in rear, which, as before- 
meniiuned, was occupied in force by the friendly natives. 
To altack in front it was necessary to cross the rather 
rapid stream, and a broad open shingle-bed, immediat«ly 
under the high bank on which the village stood. Under 
ordinary circumstances, the enemy would have availed 
themselves of this advantage, and inflicted severe loss 
upon their assailants ; bat on this occasion they were 
imacconntably apatbetic, and allowed Major Lambert to 
cross with two companies in open column, but did not 
fire a shot. When the militia gained the top of the river- 
bank, they found the Hauhaus drawn up in the foim of ft 
wedge, apex towards them. It had been their intention 
to charge the militia so siion as they appeared on the high 
ground, and had they doae bo, the militia woidd probably 
have been annihilated ; but the heavy cross-fire opened on 
them from all sides, would seem to have puzzled them as 
to which party they should charge. Before they could 
make up their minds, the opportunity was lost, and half of 
them were Aors de combat. Meanwhile Major Lambert and 
his men had entered the outer portion of the village, and 
exchanged shots with tbe enemy; here a slight panic 
occurred among some friendly natives, who, finding the fire 
rather hot, fell back in confusion. The militia showed a 
similar tendency, so Colonel Whitmore ordered them to 



158 HESIINISCENCIB OP THE 

tail back to tlie river-bonk, and take cover in encli a 
position that their fire could sweep the village. 

Foi' nearly twenty minutes the enemy stood this 
fusilade, until at lenj^ they were driven from the 
doubtful shelter of the huta, and forced to take cover in a 
hollow loadway at the further corner of the village. Here 
they were safe from the militia fire, but the colonel moved 
up a company of volunteers to a position that completely 
enfiladed them. At first, the volnnteers cunld not believe 
that the men so close to them were their enemies, and 
withheld their fire, believing them to be friendly Maories ; 
this illusion was quickly dispelled by a volley from the 
Bnpposed friendlies which aroused the volunteers to a 
Bense of their danger. In a very short time the enemy 
were driven out of their cover, when they found the 
militia and friendly natives closing up on either flank in 
such a manner as almost to bar retreat. Under these 
ciroumstanceB the Hauhaos made a virtue of neceHsity, and 
hoisted the white flag. It was some little time before 
Colonel Whitmore could stay the firing and make known 
the surrender ; but when he did so, Nikora came forward, 
laid down his arms, and called on the survivors to do 
likewise. The majority, only too glad to save their lives, 
obeyed promptly ; but a small party of the most desperate 
character, taking advantage of the confnsion, attempted to 
escape across the swamp. A company of militia under 
Captain Rhodes tried to intercept them, but without effect, 
and they would probably have succeeded in effecting their 
escape; but at this moment. Captain Gordon and his 
volunteer cavalry appeared upon the scene. They hud 
been employed in seizing the enemy's canoes, and had 
performed this duty satisfactorily. They were now sent 
iu pursuit, and succeeded in heading the fugitives, before 
they reached the summit of the neighbouring hills. Host 
of the Hauhaua were captured, though not without a 
struggle, and not more than two or three made good their 
escape. The enemy had behaved throughout this skirmish 
with remarkable courage, and their casualties were pro- 



WAR m NEW ZEALAND. 159 

portionately heavy; out of not quite one hundred men, 
there were twenty-three killed, twenty-eight wounded 
(many of whom died in hospital), and forty-four taken 
prisoners. Our loflses were insignificant, being one 
European and two Uaoriee killed, and one officer and 
eight men (Europeans) and four Maoriea wonnded. This 
^ht was Bcarcely one to be prond of, for onr foroe was 
fourfold that of the enemy; but it most be remembered, 
that hardly any of the Enropeane had been previously in 
action ; they were in faot a levy en maste of the town and 
country districts in the immediate vicinity. 

As for the friendly natives, although numerically strong, 
they were to a certain extent a eonrce of weakness; for 
many of the Enropeans believed (probably unjustly) that 
they only awaited an opportunity to join the Hauhans. 
Had the Hauhaus been allowed sufficient time to mature 
their plans, this fight would have taken place in the streets 
of Napier ; where even if beaten, they would have inflioted 
heavy loss upon the settlers. As it was, the very prompt 
and deoided attitude of the authorities forced the enemy 
to fight on ground eminently uusuited to develope Maori 
warfare, and infiioted on them the most crushing defeat in 
New Zealand annals. 

While the events related were in progress, Uajor 
Fraeer was not idle ; they had marched fiom Napier at 
2 A.)(. CD the 12th, and at 6 o'clock the following morning 
reached their destination, Captain Carr's station in the 
Patene valley. Major Fraser at once sent round to the 
neighbouring settlers, ordering tbem to come in and 
reinforce him ; but before they could do so, two officers, 
who had gone to bathe in the river, returned and reportod 
that a body of mounted men were approaching the station. 
The party proved to be Te Bangihiroa, Paora Toki, and 
Anam Uatete, with Iwenty-two Hauhaus, who were 
marching to assist the Omamnui men. Major Fiascr first 
sent a party to cut off tiie enemy's retreat by a small gorge 
through which they had to pass, and then, barring the way 

DiqilizDdbyGoOgle 



160 REimnSCENCEg OF THE 

with die remainder of hiB company, calied upon them to 
lay down their arms and surrender. 

But Te Rangihiroa, like his oompatriota at Omamnni, 
behftTed with remarkable boldnesB ; although he knew 
that his retreat was cut off, and that he was confronted by 
nearly double his number of well-armed tried men, he 
refused to snrreuder, and retired to a Bmall house for oover. 
Fraser immediately ordered hJB men to open fire, and a 
very eharp affair ensued, but lasted only a few minutes, for 
our men, judiciously posted under cover of a fence, held the 
Hauhaus at their moroy. We had only one man wounded, 
whereas the enemy had twi-We killed, one wounded, and 
three men taken prisoners. Te Bangibiroa was killed, but 
Paora Taki and Anaru Malete managed to escape, fording 
the river, to the great dirgust of our men, as it was at the 
instigation of these two chiefs that their followers refiised 
to surrender. 

These two very successful actions effectually crushed the 
rebellion in Hawken Bay, for even fanaticism is not proof 
against such sharp lessons. About one hundred and thirty 
Hauhaus had taken part in these affairs, and not more than 
a dozen had returned to tell the tale. Of the leaders, 
Panapa, Kipa, and Te Rangihiroa were killed, and Tahau 
and S'ikora taken prisoners. The two chie& who had 
escaped from Petane were followed a few days after by a 
party under Culunel ^^bLtlnore, who advanced as far as 
Tarawera on the Taupo load, in the vain hope of catohing 
them; but the fugitives had seen enough fighting, and 
wore safe before the expedition started. Most of the 
pritionera taken were shipped off to the Chatham Islands, 
where they joined Te Kooti in his daring escape ; some 
of them are still with him, but by far tho larger number 
bat their lives in the numerous fights that followed the 
Poverty liaj' massacre. 



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WAE m iraiW ZEALAND. 



CHAPTEE XXVII. 

TITOKOWABO'S OOTBREAK. 

TEAR OP THE LAMB. COLONEL MCDONNELL AND SIXTT 

ARMED CONSTABULARr SENT TO HOKITIKA. 

In May, 1867, the military eettlera of the Fatea district 
were disbanded and placed on their land, but, as a pre- 
caatiouary measure, two companies of volnnteer mililia 
were enrolled for three months to anpply their place. 
Early in June, Titokowam and bis men made their first 
visit to the camp at Waiki, and announced in tLe figurative 
langnage of the Maori that this was the year of the lamb, 
in other words, a year of peace. What the ensuing year 
was to be they did not state. 

Shortly after, Whaie Matangi, chief of the Paka Eohi, 
visited Fatea, and he also said it was a year of the 
lamb, indeed the fact was so often mentioned that at last 
the Pakehas began to believe that a permanent peace had 
been eotablished. But these delightful anticipations did 
not last long. The Paka Eohi wanted peace and the oon- 
fiscated lands at the same time, and they finally stopped 
the survey of the Whenna Enra block. Here was a caiM 
belli; but Colonel McDonnell was equal to the occasion 
He know that the slightest sign of weakness or indecision 
at this moment would involve the settlers in another war ; 
80 be quickly and silently gathered his insufGcient forces 
at Patea, and marohed one night on the village of Oika, 
disposed his men round it, and then rode to the largest 
wbare, accompanied only by two troopers. The noise and 
rattle of the steel scabbards alarmed the inhabitants, 
who called out that they were surprised by the Pakeha. 
Their exoitement, however, snbsided when they saw 
UcDonnell and his email following, and they all crowded 



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162 EEMINISCENCE8 OF THE 

into tlie whare to hear what had brought him among 
them. The colonel did not keep th.em 'waiting, but de- 
manded why they had stopped the anrvey. " The land 
ia onra," they replied, " the mana of the P&kakohi is over 
it all, and no aurreyor ehall drag a chain across it," 
McDonnell then drew their attention to the facts that 
when they Barrendered and swore allegiance, they were 
distinctly told that the land was gone, but that sufficient 
to support the tribe would be returned to theni. He 
spoke furoibly and firmly, telliu); them that to stop the 
Surrey would again lead to bloodshed ; that the responsi- 
bility rested with them, and that he wonld not leave until 
they had decided whether it was to be peace or war. 
Driven thus into a comer, they began to bounce, but 
finally promised to abstain from further interference with 
the sarvey, and to leave their claims to the generosity of 
the Government. 

Strange but true, the Hauhaua tnut to the generosity 
of the Government, whereas the friendly Maoriefi do not. 
As an example of the former case, I may mention that there 
is a Hauhau living at Fates, who lost a teg when fighting 
against us at £lakaramea ; after being cared of his wounds, 
seven in nnmber, his trust was so great that he applied 
through the Civil Commissioner for a pension, and was 
painfully surprised when that officer declined to entertain 
the idea, and suggested that he might think himself lucky 
that he was not shot. To this day our friend thinks 
himaelf badly treated. 

McDonnell, having received the promise of non-inter- 
ference, replied, "It is well; I am content ; " then turning 
to one of the troopers, said, "Tell Captain Newland to 
bring his men into the village." Shortly after the sound 
of many feet descending the hill could be heard. The 
tribe looked at one another in dismay. "It is only my 
men," said the colonel. For some moments there was a 
dead silence ; then one man drew a long breath and said. 



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WAR IN N£W ZEALAJfD. 163 

"It is lucky we agreed to what MoDonnell reqnired," 
" What would yon have done had we refused?" ttaid 
another. '• Taken you all priaoners and disarmed you," 
said McDuDQell, "and if you had resisted, shot yon." 
This prompt action raised Colonel McDonnell immensely 
in the estimation of these Hauhaus, and no fui'ther tiouble 
was experienced in survey matters from that tribe. 
About this period another tribe (Ngatitupaea), who had 
hitherto held aloof from the Fakeba, signified their 
willingness to accept the olivo-branch, and visited WaiM 
with about seventy fighting men. Thus the Slaori 
horizon was gradually clearing, and the only Bonrce of 
disquietude (and that only to those versed in Maori 
oustoraa) were the continued meetings of Titokowaru's 
tribe at Te Ngntu o te manu and other places. Friendly 
Maories and I'akehas wei'e invited tu these meetings, but 
after listening for hours to the speakers, no one seemed to 
know what the meeting had been held for. There were, 
however, several among the well-informed who were firmly 
ooQvinoed that Titokowani intended to fight, and that 
these meetings were held for the purpose of obtaining 
the consent of other tribes to a general rising. Colonel 
McDonnell himself was inclined to accept this view of the 
case, but the Civil CommissioneT derided the idea ; which 
of them was right will fee seen in the sequel. Katene, 
our Hauhau guide, was firmly convinced that his com- 
patriots intended mtsohief, and warned tlie colonel that in 
any future wars the Haubaua did not intend to fight in 
pahs, which they simply regarded as traps to be caugbt in, 
but wonld make the most of their knowledge of the country, 
surprising small partiex, and only meet the Pakehas for big 
fights in the bush, carefully avoiding the open country. 
He also warned us to be specially careful of the small 
redoubts, and see that they were well fortified ; " For mark 
me," said he, " they intend to surprise and storm one of 
them." The truth of these warnings was soon to be ex- 
M 2 



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ie4 BEHINISCENCES OF THE 

perienoed, for at Te Ngata o te m&nu they left their strong 
pah and fought as skirmishiiig in the bush ; the very 
fircit affair attempted hj the Hauhans was an attack upon 
an eucorr, and then came the daring night surprise of Torn 
Turn Mokiii, where so many of onr best men died at their 
post. 

On one occasion Eatene made an observation to an 
officer of the force at Gudgeon which he never forgot, so 
full of meaning was it, and go illuRlrative of the Usori 
mind. "Do yon trust me?" he asked. "I do," replied 
the ofBoev. Eatene sat and looked in the fire for some 
momenta, then laid bis hand on hi» friend's knee, and said, 
" Yon are right and you are wrong ; you aie right to tmst 
me now, for I mean you well, but never trust a Maori. 
Some day I may remember that I have lost my land, and 
that the power and influence nf my tribe has departed, and 
that you are the cauRc ; at that moment I shall be your 
enemy; do not forget what I say." It was about this 
period that Colonel McDonnell was ordered to proceed to 
Hokitika, with sixty of the armed constabulary to suppress 
a Fenian outbreak. This was an agreeable change from 
the monotony of camp life. The expedition landed safely 
through the historical surf of Hokitika, and found to their 
astonishment that outwardly, at any rate, the most perfect 
peace and harmony prevailed. Ko doubt there had been 
a good deal of bad feeling and rioting caused by the 
conduct of some foolish individuals on both sides ; but that 
had suhsiiled, and a more orderly population could not be 
found. The kindness shown to the force will not be easily 
forgotten by the lecipients; in fact It was too good to 
last. 



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WAB IN NEW ZBALAWn 



CHAPTER XXVIU. 
BETURN FBOH HOEITIEA. 



nRST AND SECOND VISIT TO TE NGUTU TE MASU. MURDER 
OF CAHILL, CLARK, AUD SgUlRES. 

WiTHiH three weeks of our landing, orders were received 
to retnm to Fatea, where afiaira again began to look 
serioiu ; the surveyors had been stopped at Mukoia, and 
although UoDonnell put things straight again, it was 
evidently only for a time, as the unsettled state of the 
Maories was plainly shown by their stealing everything 
they could lay bands on, particularly horMS. Mr. Booth, 
BJbL, went to Te Ngutu o te mano, to claim some of theete 
horses, and met the chieftt, Toi and Hauwhenua, who 
treated him in a most insolent manner, admitted that tbey 
had the horses, but said they intended to retain tliem, 
and any others they could lay hands on. This languid 
admitted of no doubt as to the intentions of the chiefs. 
Mr. Booth returned to Fat«a, and iesned a warrant fur their 
apprehension, which he handed to Colonel UcDonnell to 
execute. The colonel was aware that the Hanhaus would 
not allow two leading chiefs to be taken without blood- 
shed, for a crime that in their eyes was a meritoriouB 
action, and he prepared acoordingly by enrolling forty 
militia to supplement his constabulary. On the evening 
of the 11th of May, one hundred men of all ranks started 
for Te Ngutu o te mann, calling at the semi-friendly pah 
of Uawhitiwhiti, as they passed, to ascertain whether Toi 
was then living there ; the chief had left for Te Ngutu, so 
HoDonnell contented himself by taking two of the people 
of the place with him to use as messengers after he had 
surrounded the Hanhans. All went well until within 
700 yards of Te Kgutu, when one of the two men, taking 
advantage of the darkness, escaped and ran to give the 



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166 BEMINISCESCE8 OF THE 

alarm to liU friends. Eatene etarted in pursuit but could 
not overtake him, and the mischief was done. Colonel 
McDonnell and his men followed quickly, bat knowing 
that the Hanhaus would be likely to fire, if they went 
into tbe village in a body, the colonel halted the men, 
and went on himself. At the first whares he was met by the 
chief Tanfee, who led him into the open space in the 
centre of ihe vilbge, whei-e he explained the reason of his 
visit, and said he had a hundred men outside. Titokowam 
invited them to enter, and placed a very large whara at 
their disposal; at the same time intimating that he would 
be prepared to talk when it was daylight. About 8 a.v. 
the Haories assembled, and McDonnell pointed out to 
them, that Toi and Hauwhenua had brought this on the 
tribe, by their insolence to Mr. Booth. He conoluiled hia 
speech by saying, " I could take you all, but the Govern- 
ment does not wish the innocent to suffer for the guilty; 
but if I can find either Toi or Hauwhenua, I shall take 
them." Eokiri got np to answer, and said r " The horses 
are not near at hand, and the chiefHhavelefl." Then said 
McDonnell, " YonandTaukemuHtgo with me toWaihi.and 
discuss the matter with Mr. Booth." This did not alto- 
gether suit them, but Tauke finullv consented to go; and 
the result was, that two out of the three horses stolen 
were brought in that evening by the chief Katanahira. 
So far matters were tolerably smooth, bat some wretched 
Maori told Mr. Booth that there were other stolen horses 
at Te Nguta. Tauke was questioned, but denied all know- 
ledge of them ; so nothing would satisfy our aotiye magis- 
trate, bat that he mnat go himself. In vain it was to 
suggest that Tauke or Kataurhira would do better; he 
'wuiild not listen to it, but resolved to go himself and bring 
back both horses and thieves, provided McDonnell would 
give him twelve men of the armed oonstabulary. The 
colonel objected to this arrangement, as risking the lives 
of his men for nothing; bat finally agreed to send Major 
Hunter and seventeen men as his escort, while the colonel 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 167 

hinuelf, with the main body, would proodod to Fengareha, 
in case they ehonld be required. 

Oq arrival at Te KgnCo, two horseB were aeen and 
reoi^piised as haTiiig been stolen ; they were at onoe 
seized, and the small force entered tlie village. Here 
they found the Haahans armed and snlky, and three of 
them were arrested by order of Mr. Booth, who called on 
the others to assemble and hear what he had to say. This 
they decidedly refused to do, and walked off to the bnsh, 
whereupon the troopers were ordered to arrest the old 
obief Kokiri ; they obeyed, but this was the last straw on 
the camel's back. The Hanhaus turned, and levelled tbeir 
guna at the Pakehas, and there would undonbtedly have 
been bloodshed, had not Katene begged Hr. Booth to 
desist, and let Kokiri go. Ueanwhile Major Hunter had 
sent for the colonel, who was coming up at the double, 
and arrived in time to meet Mr. Booth's party returning 
triumphant, with their three prisoners and two hor>-eii. 
On the road home, Hfr. Booth proposed to let two uf the 
prisoners go, saying they were innocent men ; bat Colonel 
McDonnell, fearing that the enemy would think it a sign 
of alarm, retained them uutil he arrived at Waihi, where 
he released them. The third man, Ikaka, was placed in 
the guard tent, as he was charged with breaking into a 
settler's house; and Katene particularly warned the 
colonel nut to allow him to escape, as if he did, be would 
be certain to take revenge by killing someone. 

Notwithstanding these warnings, Ikaka did escape; 
and did kill someone. At this period, there was little 
unanimity between Mr. Booth and Colonel McDonnell; 
the latter strongly disapproved of the whole proceedings 
at Te Ngutu, and expressed his opinion very strongly to 
the Qovemment ; warning them that bloodshed would be 
the result of undue interference with men like the 
Ngaruahine tribe. It must not, however, be supposed 
that these events produced the outbreak; they simply 
hastened it : had the Haubans intended to live peaceably, 

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166 BEMINISCKNCES OF THE 

tbere would have been no horse-Btealin^; ; and above all, 
no botrnce when they were accused of it. A few daj-a 
after tbeee oocnrreDceB, a settler at Woihi was warned by 
bis Mauri friends not to go near bin lands, aa tbe Eaubans 
intended to kill some Fakebas. Wben qneetidued, tbey 
admitted tbat tbey did not know wben tiie deed was to be 
done, aa tbat lay entirely with Titokowaro ; but they did 
know, in an indefinite Maori sort of way, tbat it would be 
done within a week. Colonel McDonnell was absent, bat 
tbe warning wait conveyed to Major Hunter, and another 
official, whose knowledge of tbe Maori character should 
have warned bim that it was dangerons to neglect hints 
of this sort ; neveri heloas be only lavghed, and said his 
informant was an alarmist. On tbe following day Mr. 
Booth, B.M., bad occasion to visit tbe inland village of 
Araukakn, and on his return mentioned oaanalty tbat the 
people bad behaved very qneerly, and would lurdly look 
at him, much less speak to bim ; yet f<xc all this, he did 
not see any reason to be alarmed, and gave no warning to 
the settlera in tbe vicinity, who were working on their 
farms unconecionx of the danger that aiirroanded tbem. 
Tbat afternoon two Maori gnidee, who bad constituted them- 
aelves spies, were at Mawhitiwbiti watching the Haabaa 
movements, when suddenly nine men entered the village, 
all armed to the teeth, amongi-t tbem Haawbenna and 
Ikaka,the escaped pritioner ; alter saluting our spies, they 
remarked that they were going to shoot cattle, and asked 
if there were any Fakehas abont, saying they did not 
want to alarm tbem by tbe firing. " There are no Fakehas 
about," said Katene; " they are too frightened to work on 
their farms, as they believe you intend murder." At that 
moment tbe sound of an axe, used on the opposite side of 
tbe gully was beard by all ; Hauwhenua rose and said, " If 
we are going to «boot cattle, the sooner we begin the 
better;" and moved off in the direction of the sound. 
Before they had gone t^i yards, Katene whispered to 
Hoko, " Directly they are under tbe crest of tbe bill, dash 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 169 

down the gnlly and warn the oamp, while I will try to 
get in front of them and warn the eawyera. " The idea was 
well conceived but not to be carried ont, for the same 
thooght had evidently occurred to the Hauhans ; a brief 
consultation was held, and two of them sauntered back 
and flat down by Eatene, remarking that they were too 
tired to run after cattle, and preferred to rest until their 
oomrades returned. Each party appeared to he eatiefied 
with the explanation, and b^an to talk as though no 
murderous deed was intended ; all Ihe while keeping a 
sharp look-out on Katene, whone desperate character they 
knew well. After what appeared to have been an hour of 
intense listening, a volley was fired on the opposite side 
of the river, and shortly after the party returned, no 
longer seeking to di^piise their actions. " Go," said 
Hauwhenna, "and tell the camp to bnry their dead." 
*' Yes," replied Katene, " and be accused of having done it 
myself: go yon and tell them." Tins probability amused 
the Hauhans, who walked off laughing, while Katene 
went to see what mischief was done ; he found three men 
lying near the saw-pit horribly mutilated, their names 
were Cahill, Clark, and Squires. 

The mischief done, measures were taken to warn the 
remaining aettlere, and a meeseuger was sent to bring 
MoBonnell from Wanganui. 



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BEMINIBCENCE8 OF THE 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

baithaub' attack on tuku tdbo hosai. 

death op captain george boss, seroeakt mcfaddeh, 
corporal blake, and seven privates. 

On Colonel MoDonnoll'a arrival, he ordered a party of 
twenty-five men to garrison the deserted post of Tura 
Turn Mokai, and took every step for the safety of the 
district that his limited means allowed. But so in- 
adequate were those means, that after placing garrisons in 
a few extra posts, he had not a man to take the field with. 
He therefore proceeded to Wellington to represent the 
exact state of affairs to the Defence Minister, Colonel 
Haultain; and the result of the interview was, that 
authority was given to raise 400 men, including 100 
tapapas, for three months' service. These reinforoementa 
did not arrive too soon, for the Hauhans were laying 
ambusoadefl all round the camp. Fonr days after the first 
murders, Trooper Smith left camp, af^ainst orders, te bring 
in his horse, which had strayed to the edge of the bush, 
and was waylaid and cut to pieces in sight of the camp. 
The flashing of the tomahawks as they cut him to pieces, 
could be seen distinctly; both legs were left on tho 
ground, but his body was taken to To Ngutu o to mann 
and eaton. 

A few days later, the escort in charge of the ration-eart 
were attacked ; but the sergeant and ten men held their 
ground manfully against nearly sixty Haiihaus, until 
supported from Waihi. In this affair the enemy lost two 
tilled, and we had two wounded, both of whom recovered. 

Eeinforcements now began to arrive, the Wellington 
Rifles, eighty strong, under Captain Page, were the first ; 
and shortly after, another corps, 100 strong, under Captain 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 171 

Buck, late of the 14th Regiment, arrived and marched for 
^Vaihi, but did not aiiive there in time to prerent the first 
real disaster. I have already mentioued that a garrison 
of twenty-five nn'n had been sent to the old redoubt at 
Tnru Tutu Afokai. This was a tumble-down place with 
earthen parapets* and ditch, built by the 18th Regiment, 
in as bad a position as could well be managed, for, &om 
the top of a small hill sixty yards distant, anyone could 
see into the redoubt, which wEts so small and inconvenient, 
that after tents for the men and stores had been erected, 
there was no room for the officer's tent ; so Captain 
Eoee took up his quarters temporarily in a small whare 
outside the gate. A week or two passed over quietly, 
and Maories of both seses, of the Ngatitupaea and 
Tsngahoe tribes, came into camp with potatoes, and fat 
watching the men rebuilding the parapet; doubtless in- 
forming Titokowaru of the result of their examination. 
This was the calm before the storm, for on the morning of 
the I5lh of July, the sentry, who was posted on a rise 
overlooking a gnlly that led down from the bush, was 
kept ulert by the restlesttnese of a flock of sheep camped 
near him. Shortly before daylight he fiincied he saw 
some dark objects moving towards him. He challenged 
hastily and fired, and wan answered by a volley, which 
wounded him badly. The Hauhans in two divisions, 
each forty strong, had been lying in wait for some hours, 
waiting for the celebrated warrior Tantai to give the 
word i but that wily chieftain wished to have a little 
daylight, and Lad therefore put it off as long as his 
eager followers would allow. Tautai's plans were, that 
Hauwhenua, at the bead of one division, should make an 
attack on the opposite side to the gateway, while Tautai 
and his party chained into the redoubt through the gate. 
It was on the latter party that the sentry fired, and 
finding that he could not reach the gateway as soon as 
his active enemies, hid in the fern, and probably saved his 
life by BO doing. Meanwhile Tautai and his men had 

,z,;i.,C00gIC 



172 BEMINI8CENCE8 OF THE 

miBsed the gateway in the darkness, and given Captain 
Bosh sufficient time to get insii^e and defend the entrance. 
He WHS just in time, for the Hauhans, ruabiog round the 
face of the redoubt, led b; their chief, made a bold dash 
to cross the narrow plank. Tatitai missed bis footing, and 
fell headlong into the ditch, the next man foil by Cuptain 
Boss's revolver, and he also wounded another. This 
efTectualiy stopped the charge, for the enpmy got into the 
ditches, and one man crawling nnder the plank, shot 
Captain Eoss ; another follow drove a long-handled toma- 
hawk into hiB body, and dragged him into the ditch, 
where he was afterwards found with his heart cut ont. 
It is Mkid that Captain Boaa, as he fell, called out to his 
men, " Take care of yourselves, hoys, I am done for," and 
some of them tieemed to have understood that thoy weifl 
to save themselves; at any rate, four of the garrison, 
seized with a sudden panic, sprang on the parapet, and 
attempted to escape by jumping over the Maories' heads ; 
strange to say, only one of them was killed, the other 
three escaped. 

Several attempts were made on the gateway by the 
enemy, but Sergeant McFadden and Corporal Blake de- 
fended it desperately until they were killed ; in fact, most 
of the men fell here, and the place must eventually have 
been taken, had not the Hauhaus changed their plan of 
attack. While their main body swept the inside of the 
redoubt by iheir fire, a small party worked hard to under- 
mine the parapets. The few men unwoundcd in the re- 
doubt took shelter in the angles, and delayed the Hanhaus 
by shouting, " Here are the cavalry." This had a startling 
effect on tlie enemy, who cleared out of the ditch and 
prepared to decamp each time the ruse was employed. 
The attack had now been sustained for nearly an hour, 
and only six men were left capable of bearing armn, yet 
no assistance had been received from Waihi, which was 
but two miles and a half distant. The survivors were 
just debating whether it would not be better to sally out 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gk' 



MAJCK KUNTiiR 



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WAR IS NEW ZEALAOT). 173 

KDd die figfatiug, when suddenly the Haubaiu, warned b; 
their scouts, left the ditch and made for the bush, and 
shortly tkfter Yon Tempsky and his company arrived at 
the redoubt. The whole place was a perfect shamble, 
four Hauhane lay dead outeide, and Captain Roes was 
found in the ditch ; but inside the gate Sergeant 
McFadiien, Corporal Blake, I'riTat^H Holden, Boss, Shields, 
Sworda, Gayiior, and A. Beamish, were lyins dead; and 
FrivBt«a Flanagan, Luffin, Lacey, Connere, Beamish, aud 
£ershaw, badly wounded, and a storekeeper named Lounon 
was cut to pieces a short distance from the redoubt. The 
names of the unwounded men were Johnson, Milmoe, 
O'Brien, Stuart, M'Lcan, and Gill. A few minutes after 
Von Tempsky's arrival, the parapet that had been par- 
tially undermined by the Hauhaua, fell, and left one side 
of tLe redoubt open ; hsid this happened ten minutes 
sooner, there would not have been a man alive to tell the 
tale ; and twenty-four carbines, a like number of revolvers, 
and a large store of reserve ammunition, would have 
fallen a prize to the enemy. The circumstances which 
led to such delay in ronderiug assistance to the garrison of 
Turn Turu Mukai, have never been satisfactorily ex* 
]iUined. It appears that the firing was not heard for some 
time after the attack commenced, but the attention of the 
Waihi tientriea wan drawn by the flashes of the rifles round 
the i>arapet. When thev gave the alarm. Major Von 
Tempsky, who commanded at Waihi, ordered his division. 
No. 5 of the Armed Constabnlary, to stand to their arms, 
and Troop-Serjeant'Major Anderson at the same moment 
ordered his twenty troopers to boot and saddle, as be 
very naturally expected orders to gallop to his comrades' 
assistance. In the meantime Von Tempsky had left, without 
giving otders lo the troopers, and took a circuitous route 
in the hope of cutting off the enemy. Major Hunter, the 
second in command, found the troopers waiting commands, 
aud concluded that Vou Tempsky did not want them, 
er he would have sent them on ahead. He therefore 



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174 HEMINI8CENCES OF THE 

ordered tliem to dismount and feed their EorseB, re- 
marking that if Von Tempaky had wanted them he would 
have told them to follow. The aerKeant-major oould not 
brook this standing on military etiquette, when the lives 
of comradea were at stake, and he then and there used 
very bitter language at Major Hunter — ^language inex- 
oQsable, as I shall show, despite the court-martial which 
sat to inqtiire into the affair. Those hast? words of the 
sergeant-major found their way to the public papers, and 
formed the groundwork for the abuse showered npoQ 
him. He was accused of having, by his supinenesa and 
oowardioe, caused the death of half the men at Turu Turn 
Mokai. 

On the return of Von Tempsky, he brought with him the 
Hnrvivorti, and they stated that had the troopers been sent 
to their relief, Ihey would have arrived twenty minatea 
sooner, and in that case not half the men wonld have been 
killed. This statement, perfectly true in itself, so irritated 
the force, that many offioers and men. who should have 
known better, joined in the condemnation of Major Hunter, 
instead of placing what blame there might be oa the 
shoulders of Major Von Tempsky. Those who knew 
Major Hunter intimately, knew him to be a good ofiSoer 
and strict disciplinarian, and that it would have been 
altogether contrary to his ideas for him to interfere with 
the dispoeitiuus of his superior oEBcer. It was undoubtedly 
Von Tempsky's duty to relieve the beleaguered redoubt; 
and that he did not take the troopers, shows either one of 
two things, that he considered his own men sufficient, or 
that he wished to appropriate all the credit to himself. 
Major Hunter conld not have followed with the troops, 
without leaving Waibi to a certain extent unprotected; 
consequently, those who bsEtily blamed him, must feel 
that they bad a large share in the sacrifice of his life, 
which he lost at Moturoa in giving the lie to an imputa- 
tion under which he was unable to live. 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

FIE8T ATTACK ON TE NODTD O TB MANU WITH THE 
HEW LEVIES. 

About midday Colonel McDonnell arrived from Patea trith 
£atene, and the first object that met the latter'ii eyes was 
a near relation lying dead outside the redoubt where he 
had fallen in the assault. From that moment the colonel 
knew his soout was not to be trusted, and that sooner or 
later he would want ntu (revenge); he therefore deter- 
mined to keep a sharp look-out on bis movements. 

Fur some time Eatene bad shown uneasiness, and like 
his compatriots at Te Ngutu had been stealing; for one 
of these offences be was tried before the Besident Magis- 
trate and sentenced to three months in the Patea gaol. 
McDonnell was absent at the time, but on bia return he 
heard of tbe affair, and as he required some information 
sent for the gaoler to bring Xatcne to him ; this was done, 
and far into the night tbey sat talking over future opera- 
tions. At last McDonnell said, " Vou had better §leep here 
to-night, and to-morrow I will get your sentence remitted, 
as a reward for the information you have given me.'' 
Eateue replied that he would lather return to the gaol 
that night aa his blankets were there, so they both walked 
down to the place, and found it locked and the gaoler 
away ; this did not diecompo»e Katene, who simply walked 
round to the back, and climbed up to the gable window ; 
just before he disappeared inside, he turned and said, " It 
is easy to get in, but much easier to get out." " Then 
why did you stay ? ' said tbe colonel. " Oh," he replied, 
" I knew it would be right when yon returned ; if I had 
not thought so you would have found me absent." The 
colonel's misgivings as to the future behaviour of his spy 
were well founded, for that very night Moko and Eatene, 



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176 REMINIBCENCEB OF THE 

with all their people, about thirty in n«mber, who bad 
been living for some time close to the camp, went off in 
a body to Titokowam, and took with them the people of 
Mawhitiwhiti. 

A Wangaimi chief, Te Hira, who was living with them, 
was found next morning gagged and bound in a moat 
scientific manner ; when released, ho described the whole 
affair as far as he knew to McDonnell. He said that he 
was awakened from his sleep by the Hauhaus, as they 
tied him hand and foot; Kateae wanted to kill him, but 
the othern refused to allow it, and contented themselveB 
by gaging him so that he could not give the alarm. 

Long after, I heard the history of their escape, after 
Eatene had been called into McDonnell's whare, and had 
remained talking over matters with the colonel until 
nearly 2 a.m. Be went to his people and awakened 
them quietly, telling them to muster in his tent When 
they ware all aNsembled, he said, " You know where I have 
been." "Yes," said the tribe; "in McDonnell's whare." 
"Yes, and I have this news for you, that McDonnell 
intends to kill you all as spies and traitors, and had it not 
been for me you would have been killed this n:ght. I 
have managed to put it off until to-morrow ; let us kill 
Te Hira and escape at once. 

The first proposition, an we have seen, was not agreed 
to, but the latter was oarried out so quickly and silently, 
that no one knew or snepected they had left, until the 
following morning. 

Comparatively few of the new levies had seen active 
service, and, as might have been foreseen from the harried 
manner in which they were raised, were of very inferior 
quality compared with the old hands. Had we been likely 
to engage the enemy in open ground, this would not have 
mattered ; but the absolute certainty that we should have 
to fight far in the hush, where even the beat and most 
experienoed men are liable to panics, was a source of great 
snxiety to the officers, and caused them to look forwai-d to 



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WAB m NEW ZEALAND. 177 

the first engagement witb anytliing but eagerness. They 
oonid not but feel that the ohaooes vere miich in favoar 
of disaster. It is diffionlt for those who have not taken 
part in a bosh fight, to understand the value, or indeed, 
the absolute necessity, of experienced men. Kew hands, no 
matter how good, or how oourageons, will crowd, and if 
they are not allowed to do that, they fancy they are being 
deserted, simply becanse, from the natnre of the bnsh, they 
c»n only see one or two of their comrades. Therefore, 
the heavier the fire, and greater the neceasify for keeping 
apart, the more new hands tend to crowd together. 

By this time McDonnell bad received moat of the 
promised reinforcements, and on the 2lBt of June orders 
were ii-sned for all available men to bold themselves ready 
to start before daybreak to attack Te Kguta o te mann. 
The momii^ broke with torrents of nin, but abont 10 a.u. 
the rain ceased, and a thick mist shrouded the whole 
country ; this was even better for our purpose than dark- 
ness, so McDonnell ordered the force to start. The column 
consisted of detachments of Nos. 2, 3, and 6 Divisions of 
the Constabulary, Wellington Bangers, and Wellington 
Bifies, in all about two hundred men, accompanied by 
Father Boland. They crossed the Waingongoro Biver at 
the upper crossing, entered the bush at the Fungarehn 
track, and pnshed rapidly forward until they reached that 
deserted village ; greater caution was then used, as at any 
moment a volley might be poured into them from an 
ambush. Shortly before reaching Te Mam, palisades 
could be seen through the trees, but fortunately for the 
attacking party, this strong work had no defenders, I say 
fortunately, for it was constructed in a most ingenious 
manner ; the palisades were erected right across the track, 
and fi:>r some chains on either side, and supported by rifle- 
pits in the rear, Tet it was only intended as a blind, to 
distraot the attention of the attacking party &om the more 
dangerous (because unseen) rifie-pits that flanked the whole 
line of advance, and ended in a gully, by which the enemy 



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178 BEMINIBCENCE8 OF THE 

oonld escape viUioat being exposed to fire. As; enemy 
attempting to Btorm the pfdit>ade« would be enfiladed from 
theae bidden pits. However, on thia oooaaion, the work 
was deserted, though it had been lately oooupied, aa tbe 
fires were still alight ; but the enemy had gone away, 
never dreaming that the Pakeha would oome out in Bnch 
bad weather. The men who poshed forward to Te Ngatu 
were therefore feeling secure, when within a few haDdred 
yards they were ordered to crawl cautiously forward until 
they were within fifty jarda, then tbe word was given and 
they were in the pah ; only one of our men was killed, and 
but two of the HauhauB, of whom there seemed to be very 
few present. 

A few guns and tomahawks were taken, and a good 
many fiaaks of fine rifie-powder, and then the wharee 
were burned to ensure the destruction of any concealed 
powder. The Hauhaus, taken by surprise, had escaped 
to the buah, and it was useless to attempt to follow 
them; so McDonnell recalled his men and returned 
to Waihi. For the first half-mile they were unmolested, 
but just before they arrived at Te Ham, the Hauhaus, 
about one hundred strong, overtook them, and opened a 
heavy fire on the rear guard ; several men were killed and 
wounded, and the main body had to return to their asaiat- 
anoe, to enable them to cross a deep and dangerous ravine. 
Major Hunter, who had charge of the rear guard, par- 
ticularly distingniEhed himself by his ooolnew in bringing 
off the killed and wounded. The enemy continued the 
pursuit until they reached the Pungarehu, a distance of 
three miles, they then drew off and allowed us to depart in 
peace ; but our troubles were not quite over, fbr on reaoh- 
ing the Wtui^ngoro, it was found that there was a heayy 
ireshet in the river. At first it seemed impoesible to 
oroBs, but finally some one produced a rope, and one of our 
strongest men suoceeded in crossing, and fostened it to a tree 
on the opposite bank. The men oanying the wounded were 
tbe first to cross, and they suoceeded pretty well as the 

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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 179 

weight kept them Bteady ; bnt the ^ahet waa ati'll rising, 
and some of those in rear of the oolumn were swept off 
their le^, and only BATed at the personal rifik of a few 
brave men. 

This akirmiah was not very favotirahle to ns, for we bad 
lost four killed, and had eight 'wounded, whereas as far aa 
we oonld tell the enemy had only lost two men ; hnt on 
the other hand, most of our men were new to bosh fighting ; 
and no one expected great things from them, so the old 
hands were agreeably snrprised to see them retreat steadily 
and quietly in the &ce of aa active, daring, foe, and pre- 
dicted great things in the future. It was afterwards 
ascertained through the ftiendl; natives at the Kauae, that 
the H&uhauB, feeling themeelvee safe for that day, bad gone 
to shoot cattle, leaving only twenty men to defend the 
pah: they were however sufficiently near to hear the firing, 
and arrived in time to make the retreat very warm. 

It was after this engagement that Major Ton Tempsky 
wrote the following letter which appeared in the news- 
papers: — 

" On that grey and rainy morning, when the snoring 
waters of the Waingongoro were muttering of flood and fury 
to come, when our 800 mustered silently in column on the 
parade ground, one man made his appearance who at once 
drew all eyes npon him with silent wonder. His garb was 
most peculiar, scanty but long skirts shrouded hia nether 
garments ; an old waterproof sheet hung loosely on his 
shoulders; weapcais he had none, but there was a warlike 
oook in the position of his broad-brimmed old felt, and a 
self-confidence in the attitude in which he leaned on his 
walking-stick that said, 'Here stands a man without 
fear.' Who ia it? Look underneath the flap of that 
olerioal hat, and the frank good.humoured countenance of 
Father Ronald will meet you. There he was, lightly 
arrayed for a march of which no one conld say what the 
ending would be. With a good-hnmoured smile he ' 
answered my question as to what on earth bronght him 
V 2 

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180 BEUnnSCENOBS OF THE 

tbere. On holding evening service he had told his flock 
that he ^ronld aocompany them on the marrow, and there 
he waa. Truly there stood a good shepherd. 

"Through the rapid river, waist deep, along the 'weary 
forest track, acroes ominous-looking clearings, where at 
any moment a volley &om an amhnsh would have swept 
our ranks, Father Bonald marched cheerfully and luAnfiiUy, 
ever ready with a kind word or playful sentence to any 
man who passed him. And when at last in the clearing 
of Te Ngnta'o te rnana the storm of bullets burst apou us, 
he did not wait in the rear for men being brought to him, 
bat ran with the rest of ns forward against the enemy's 
position. So soon as any man dropped he was by his side. 
He did not ask, Are yon Catholic or Protestant? but kindly 
kneeling prayed for his last words. Thrice noble conduct 
in a century of utilitarian tendencies I What Catholic on 
that expedition could have felt fear ? When he Raw Father 
Bonald at his side smiling at death, a living personfication 
^.« fulfilment of many a text preached — what Catholic on 
that day could have felt otherwise than proud to be a 
Catholic on Father Roland's account? 

" Waihi, Augoflt 24th." 



OHAPTEB XXXI. 
SECOND ATTACK OK TB DGDTO TE MANU. 



OwiNO to the obetmctive policy of Heto Eingi, a leading 
(thief of the Wunganni tribe, no friendly natives had 
joined the field force; but, after some months' talking and 
worry, his opposition was over-mled and seventy Maories 
arrived at Waihi; they were a good specimen of the 
Maori warrior, tambleeome bat nsefol, eq>e(uaUy in 



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WAS m NEW ZEAI^AIfD. 181 

eoonting and bnshwork ; they appeared to be ready and 
willing to strike a blow, bo UcDonnell annoimoed that he 
wonld make a raid on the night of the 6th of September. 
Our allies, nothing loth, made preparation for the coming 
engagement ; bat on the night named the Tohnngaa (learned 
men) discovered that the moon and ita attendant star 
Btood in a most nnfortnnate position one towards the 
other, betokening nothing less than death to the attacking 
party. They were oonseqnently very Ponri (dark), and 
begged the oolonel not to go, but he declined to listen to 
thenL In vain middle-aged warrioTs, of wide experienoe 
and grave mien, implored the oolonel to postpone the 
expedition if only for a day ; he was inexorable, ao the die 
was oast, and the Maoriee, after holding a meeting, dedded 
to go, saying that as they had remonstrated against such 
Impiety they would not sufTer, but that the Pakeha would 
in all probability be annihilated, and serve Tiina right for 
going in the face of snoh prediotions, Hj readers will 
probably smile at this as mere childishness, bnt I can 
aesnre them that there were many Fakebas who at the 
time believed the Maoriee were right ; and as for the noble 
savage, he never reqaired the ooi^rmation of the following 
day, when, after bearing the Iviint of the fight equally 
with the Fakeha, he escaped soot-free. We took the 
fourth of the force engaged. About mid-night the 
expedition started ; it was bitterly cold, in fact freezing, 
and the Maoriea, who were mostly without boots, were 
crippled for weeks after by the &o6t of that night. Donbt- 
ful information had been received, to the effect that 
Titokowam and his tribe had retired to an inland village 
called Bnaruru ; where this was no one seemed to know, 
BO there was nothing left the colonel bnt to follow out the 
old system of striking deep into the bosh until some well- 
beaten track was orossed, when it was followed up to the 
bitter end. These tactics were duly observed on this 
occasion, and the oolnmn, 270 strong, was &r into the bash 



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182 BEUINISOENCES OF THE 

bj daybreak, steering across the weatem slope of Mount 
I^mont until nearly 2 P.u. ; when theiT perseverance was 
rerrarded by crosBtng a well-beaten track. After holding 
a small oonncil of war, it was decided to follow the track 
towards the sea ; this was done for nearly an honr, when 
another halt was called, and the chief Kepa ordered one of 
his men to climb an immense rata-tree and report if he 
oould see either smoke or an opening in the bush. The 
man quickly ascended the tree, and immediately reported 
smoke about half a mile further down the track, and 
stated that he oould plainly hear the sounds of a Maori 
Haka (danoo), 

This last item was of importanoe, as it plainly showed 
that the Hanhans had no idea of our proximity. Eepa'a 
advice was admirable, and hod it been carried ont would 
in all probability have finished Titokowaru's career ; he 
said, " We now know where to find the enemy ; my advice 
is that you take your men off the track about two hundred 
yards into the bush, where they must lie down in perfect 
silenae ; leave me with my men in ambush on the track, 
and if one of the enemy passes, I will have him tomahawked 
without noise : but I do not expect any one to oome, for it 
is late in the afternoon, and the track is evidently not much 
used. So soon as it is dark I will go down, and reconnoitre 
the enemy's position, so that we may know what to do to- 
morrow morning." This advioe if followed out would un- 
donbt«dly have ensured success, even in the opinion of 
the Hauhaus themselves, who, when they were informed of 
Eepa's speech, said, " Had that been done we were lost." 
But McDonnell had also a certain amount of right in his 
view, for he feared that the Hauhau scouts might find 
he had crossed the river, in whioh oase they would prepare 
for attack &om any quarter, so he divided the Europeans 
into two divisions, one of which Von Tempsky commanded, 
and the other he took charge of himself, and gave the order 
to advance. 



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WAH IN NEW ZEALAND. 183 

The Maories under Kepa led the Tray, and after marchiag 
aboDt five hundred yards, oame suddenly upon a Haori 
tent in the middle of the tiaok, and, worse still, a woman 
standing outside. 

For a monieat she stood petrified by our sadden appear- 
anoe, then ran soreaming down the track pansaed by the 
Maories ; as our men passed the tent a man sprang out, and 
was immediately shot ; as also two poor little children out 
of three who were fuund there ; the third was earned all 
through the fight on a Maori's baolc, and brought safely 
into camp, where he gave a good deal of information. The 
firing had of oourse roused the main body who were only 
800 yards distant, consequently all chance of surprise or 
suoceas was gone ; the best possible disposition was made 
under the circumstanoes, and the men advanced cautiously 
in line, until close to the clearing where we expected to find 
the pah. Here Eepa's men were extended on the left, and 
ordered to work round the pah on that side ; while Von 
Tempsky and his division crossed a creek on their front, 
and dosed round their aide of the place. All seemed to 
have forgotten Eatene's warning, that for the future the 
HauhauB wonld fight in the bush, and not in their pah ; 
but it was brought to their memory quiokly, for as the 
division under Von Tempsky, and part of HoDonneU's, 
deeoended into the bed of the creek, they were literally 
shattered by volleys fired from the opposite bank within 
fifteen yards, and at the same time enfiladed from a small 
bash hill on their right. Just at this moment, Kepa caine 
to McDonnell and told him that it was Te N'gutu o te 
manu that they were attacking. On the former ocoasion, 
tiie force had taken it from the open ground in front. At 
first McBonnell could hardly believe the chief, but he soon 
found that Eepa was right. Meanwhile the men were fall- 
ing fast, and the ten stretchers brought were fully occupied. 
Dr. Best, andLieutenant Rowan, were among the firatoffioera 
hit, the latter dangerously, as his jaw was shattered ; but 



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184 EBMINISCENCE9 OP THE 

It was lucky that they were hit early in the action; a 
veiy few minntea later they would have been left behind. 
Athough our men in the creek were close to the pah, the 
Hcmb was so thick that they oonld not see it, and the rata- 
trees inside the palisades were occupied by the best of tbe 
enemy's marksmen, who, seonre in their elevated position, 
raineddeathanddestruotionon theEuTopeans. Kepaontbe 
extreme left had amncheasier task, the Maories occupying 
the bush in his front were quickly driven back to the pah, 
and the friendlies following held possession of the whole side 
of the clearing; infact, there was nothing wanted to ensure 
victory, even at this stage of afiairs, but men sufficiently 
nsed to the work, who would not take alarm at the loss of a 
few men even in the dreaded bush. But as it was, victory 
was simply impossibtetforMoDonneirs divisions had suffered 
as heavily as Yon Tempsky's. The genial and gallant 
Lieutenant Hunter was one of the first ofBoers killed ; 
only a few moments before he had requested his men to 
look out for partners, as the ball was about to conunenoe. 
Very few of the men saw him &U, and his body was iefi 
on the field. Captain Palmer and Lieutenant Hastings 
were mortally wounded, and left to their fate, for th«-e 
were no stretchers available. By this time McDonnell saw 
that he would have some difficulty in saving the remainder 
of the force ; so he decided to retire at once, carrying all 
the wounded that he could find. With this view the 
oolouel sent his brother Captain McDonnell to Major Von 
Tempsky, requesting him to follow McDonnell's division as 
they retired. Kepa was also scut for, and be advised the 
colonel to retreat round the edge of the clearing with his 
wounded, while Kepa held the enemy in check as rear 
guard. 

Captain McDonnell carried his message to Ton Tempsky, 
who, unaware of tbe extent of our losses, did not like the 
idea of retreat, and snggested trying to storm the pah; 
but when he was informed of the strength of the place, and 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 185 

the number of oar wounded, he hesitated, and. walking 
a few Btepe to get a better view of the position, wbb 
inunediately shot dead. Captain McDonnell informed 
Captain Bucfc, the next in oommond, of the colonel's orders, 
Knd implored him to cany them out at once, as his brother 
was moving off. He then returned to the colonel, and re- 
ported Von Tempsky's death, and that Captain Buck would 
carry out the orders. The colonel instructed his brother 
to take a dozen of Eepa'a men, and make all haste to 
reach the dangerooa defile leading to Te ]k[aru, before the 
HaobatiB oonld take poasesaion of it, and out off the re- 
treat of the forces, for be had a lively reooUeotion of the 
loss he bad sustained in oroFsing this gorge on the former 
oocBsioii. Captain McDonnell and his men arrived at Te 
Mam breathless ; fortunately they had a dog with them 
who ran on in front, and had just reached the bush, where 
a Toioe asked inMaori,"'Wboareyon?''They could see the 
dc^was a Maori. Our Maories Bnewered, "It is us, come 
OD." Out stepped two athletic young Maories from under 
the trees, and were immediately shot down ; they were the 
Hanhau advanced guard who had nearly been too quick 
for ua. One retreating oolumn was under fire, the whole 
way from Te Ngntu o te manu to Te Mam, men falling con- 
tinnally ; but once across the gorge, we were comparatively 
safe, and the wounded were sent on in front, while the 
force turned on their pursuers. 

Then for the first time it was found that Captain Boberta, 
with Von Tempsky's division,had not joined the main body; 
McDonnell wished to return and find them, but Eepa sug- 
gested that they had retreated through the bush on the 
other side of the pah, and in all probability vrere better 
off than McDonnell's division, as the main body of Hauhana 
were evidently on their front. The retreat was therefore 
continued, and as it was nearly dark the Hauhaus drew off 
their men, and did not molest them further. Thisdivisioa 
reachedWaihiaboiit9F.u., the men thoroughly exhausted by 



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188 EEMINIBCENCEB OP THE 

their long maroh, uid oarrying fourteen wounded, some of 
whom were home on orossed riflee for want of stretchers. 

These men had nothing to be ashtuned of, they had he- 
haved well before the enemy, and broughtoff their wounded ; 
but very different was the case with a party of wretched 
fugitiTes, about forty in nnmber, belonging chiefly to the 
Wellington Bifies, who airiyed at Waihi nearly three hours 
before MoDonnell, and reported Yon Tempsky, Buck, both 
the McDonnells, and all the foroe as destroyed, and them- 
selves as the only snrrivors. They must have bolted 
almost at the first shot, and left their oomradee to fight 
uid die slona 

McDonnell's first enqniry on reaching camp was whether 
Captain Boberts had arrived, and he was mnoh disquieted 
when he fonnd he was absent ; for he knew that he alone 
would be blamed if anything happened to that otBcer and 
his men, whose doings we must now relate. 

Hardly had Captain MoDonnell left Von Tempaky's 
division, when Captain Back determined to recover the 
body of the latter officer before retiring ; he called on a few 
men to assist him, and advanced to where Von Tempsky 
lay, and while in the act of lifting the body, was shot dead. 
The men fell baok and informed Captain Roberts, who then 
took command ; hut unfortunately he knew nothing of the 
order to retire, and oontiuued to hold his position in front 
of the pah, until some of his men reported that McDonnell 
had retreated, and left them alone to fight it out 

Under ordinary circumstances. Captain Boberts and his 
division, abont seventy strong, would have been more than 
a match for the enemy opposed to them ; but the bad 
behaviour of the recruits had now extended to the rest of 
the force, and they were all in such a state of panic and so 
diKheartened, that he conid not pertjnade them to keep 
apart and take cover; they only crowded more closely 
together, and so presented an easy mark to the Hauhaus. 

Lnckily some of the Maories had got mixed with this 



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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 187 

oolunm ; among others the chief Fehira Tnrei, and Captain 
Koberts, after coDsnlting'witli him, deoided to retire through 
the bush towards the uea, trusting to the approaoh of night 
to shake off his foes. Pebira led the oolnmn in the right 
direotion, while Captain Bobertfi, assisted by volunteers 
LtTingstone, Pope, and Blake, Sergeant Bnaaell, armed 
oonstabalary, and one or two men brought np the rear, 
and behaved so gallantly, that with sixty men of the same 
stamp the Hauhaus could have been beaten easily. 

Aboat sunset. Sergeant Kassell had his thigh smashed 
by a rifle-ball ; and as there was no means of carrying him 
off, his fate was sealed ; in fact he recognised this himself, 
and asked his comrades to shoot him ; they refused to do 
BO, but Livingstone put his revolver in his hand, smashed 
his carbine against a tree, that it might not fall into the 
hands of the Haohaos, and there left him to his fate. 

The oircnmstanosB attending the death of this gallant 
soldier were elicited from a prisoner months after. It 
appeared that the enemy, following up Boberts. came upon 
Buseell lyingin the track ; one of them thinking hehad an 
easy prey, rushed forward to tomahawk him. In a moment 
Bussell drew bis revolver &om under bis coat and shot bis 
enemy dead. After this reception, the Hauhaus stood off 
and shot him ; so he died a soldier's death, and was not 
even tomahawked. It was now too dark to follow, and the 
Haubaus drew off, and left oar men to continue the retreat 
in peace. For nearly an hour Captain Roberta puahed for- 
ward, BO as to get well away from Te Ngutu o te manu ; he 
then called a halt until the moon rose, aa Pehira assured bim 
that be would easily lead them out of the bnah if be bad 
the moon to guide him. Cold, hungry, tired, and in many 
oases wounded, the men sat down in a heap, and through 
the long hours of pitcby darkness before the moon rose, 
they oould bear the triumphant yells of the enemy rejoicing 
over their victory. When at last the moon made her 
appearance, it was discovered that two of tbe wounded had 



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188 BEUINIBCENCKS OF TEE 

died of esbanBtion dnring the halt, bat the remainder 
followed their guide, aod juet &t dawn of day, fomtd 
themselvee safe outside the bush, and when abont two milee 
from Waihi, they met a party of aiity Maories who were 
going to look for them, even to Te Kgnta o te Manii, and 
were greeted with a (dieer that might have been heard five 
miles off. Eepa and his men had behaved especially well in 
offering to go' in search of Captain Boberta, for thay were 
all in a state of grief over the death of their old chief, Hori 
Te Anaoa ; under these oironmstanoeB, Maories do not as 
a rule care to fight. The deceased was a chief of the highest 
rank, and dignified mien, one of a past generation who had 
always shown the greatest friendship to the Eoropeana, 
and whose last words wete, " Take care of the Taonga " 
(Europeans). All through the night, the lamentations over 
his death had been carried on, and at 8 a.m. the Maories 
had started and met the division as already related. 
The reception given them may be imagined; .but their 
appearance waa not calculated to raise the spirits of the 
force; every third man was wounded, some of them 
aeverely, and all were covered with the blood of tbeir 
wounded comrades. The enemy's loss in this engf^ment 
was, according to the highest estimate, only twelve killed ; 
and according to the Hanhaus only two; but as thflir 
allies the Nguraum admitted at the time some six or 
seven, we can only suppose that the people cf Te Ngutu 
wished to conceal their losses. Our casualties were very 
heavy, amounting to twenty-four killed and twenty-six 
wounded, being one-fifth of the foroe engaged. 



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WAH IN NEW ZEALAND. 



CHAPTEH XXXn. 

THE IHPOBTANT DTFFEKEKCG BETWEEN DISCIPLINED 
AND ITNDISOPLDIED MEN, A FACT NEVER SUFFI- 
OIENTLY BEOOQNKED BT THE NEW ZEALAND 
OOTEBNMENT. 



Aftsb ezaminiDg the Tuions namtiTes of this fight, one ia 
stiU at a loss to aooonct for the large nnmber of killed and 
voonded on our aide, without a corresponding loss to the 
enemy. It is certain that we fell into a trap on first 
approaching To Ngntu, but had the men behaved with 
ordinary ooolneea it would have been easy to withdraw 
them, and attack from a more favourable position. The 
enemy were not more numerous than they were at 
PuDgarebu, hut our fbroe waa nearly three timee aa 
strong as on that oooasion, and in indiTidaal course 
probably equal. But there was the important difference 
between disciplined and undisciplined men, a fact never 
sufficiently recognised hy the Xew Zealand OoTemment, 
who have been apparently under the impression that 
one man is as good aa another. T^ beet authorities 
in liurope state that it takes three yean to make a 
soldier. Then, how mnch more a forest ranger, who has 
frequently to become his own officer, and aot on his own 
responaibility in bush warfere, when orders can scarcely 
be heard, much lees men seen by their officers? A 
forest-ranger, to be efficient, must skirmish like a Maori, 
to whom it is second nature, but only to be acquired by 
the European after long practice. He must reserve hia fire 
onlil he aees his enemy, and not blaze away from the hip, 
an new bands invariably do, under the impreaaion that 



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190 EEM1N1S0ENCE8 OP THE 

the; will eo&re the enemy ; and above all, he mnst have that 
feeling of trust in his ofGcera and oomr&dea which leads 
men to believe that all is going 'well, nntil they are 
officially informed to the oontrary. Should another out- 
break take place, the lesaon of Te Ngutu will be repeated ; 
for it is absurd to suppose that a wily foe, like the Maori 
of the present day, will meet ns on open ground, and but 
few of onr present force have ever fought in the bush. I 
have previously mentioned that a boy was taken prisoner 
at Te Ngutu, and oairied into camp, when he gave a good 
deal of informatioa. When queetioned about the deserter 
Kimball Bent, be said there were two Pakehas with 
Titokowani ; one of them named Te Bingi-Bingi and the 
other Eingi (Bent). He also stated that bot^ of them 
were engaged in ihe attaok on Turn Turu Uokai, and 
that Kingi tried hard to persuade the Hauhans to rush the 
redoubt. After they returned to Te Ngutu, he cmned the 
Maoriee for their cowardice in not following him; these 
men complained to Titokowarn, who replied, "Shoot 
him." Now this tale is not strictly true ; the reason that 
Kingi was shot was, that a tale had been industriously 
oirouiated by the Ihiropeans among the semi-friendly 
Uaories, to tjie effeot that Bent bad promised McDonnell 
to shoot Titokowarn, provided he received pardon for 
having deserted to tlie Hauhaus. This tale reached the 
Ngutu o t« manu, and gained credence among the people, 
who at once demanded his death. Titokowaru oouaented, 
but it was a case of " who is to bell the cat ?" Eingi, Irom 
his behaviour, evidently suspected something, and had 
always his arms at hand. Under these oiroumstancea he was 
not a man to be lightly attacked, so his death was deferred 
nntil a favourable opportunity. At last he was found 
asleep in his whore, and the man who found him tried to 
tomaiiawk him, but was in such a state of fonk that he 
only inflicted a severe wound, and before he could strike 
another, Eingi grappled with him and would have taken 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 191 

his tomaluvk, bad not his ories brought other Hftohana 
on the soene, Trho oat the deaert«r to pieoee — a fit ending 
to snob a life. No sooner -waa Eingi dead, than they 
wanted to serve the other Fakeha in the same manner; 
but Titokowam refused, saying, " He is too usefal ; who 
will moke the cartridges when he ia dead ? " On the 1 2th, 
a half-naked man was Been coming from the bnsh towards 
the camp ; a party was sent out to meet him, and foond it 
was a man named Dore, one of the Wellington Eangers. 
He had heen wounded on the 7th, his arm shattered near 
the shoulder, and must have fainted from loss of blood, as 
the first thing he remembered after ooming to his senses, 
was finding himself stripped of everything bat his shirt. 
He waa probably fonnd by the enemy while nnounsoious, 
and they, believing he was dead, neglected to tomahawk 
him, a most nnitsual piece of neglect on the part of the 
Hauhans, and one not likely to happen again should they 
hear of Dore's escape. 

The poor fellow hid in an old rata-tree until it was 
quite dark, and then attempted to find his way to WaihL 
For three days he 'wandered in a circle, always returning 
to Te Ngutu, but on the evening of the 10th he managed 
to reach the open country, and made for the crossing of 
the WaingoDgoro; here he felt his senses going, and 
feared that he would never resoh camp. How he crossed 
the rapid stream in his weak state is a mystery, and he 
himself does not know, but he declared that he was fired 
on while crossing, and fainted on the opposite bank. After 
this his mind was a blank, he only knows that he tried to 
reach oamp Waihi. The unfortunate man was within two 
miles of the oamp when he crossed the river on the lOth ; 
yet he was not seen until the afternoon of the 12th, and 
bad evidently wandered aimlessly about during all those 
hours. This is certainly one of the most wonderful in- 
stanoes of endurance on record; a man with an arm 
shattered to pieces, without food and nearly naked. 



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192 BEHINISCENGES OF THE 

strangled on thiough five days and nights of frosty weather, 
and ;et recovered from his wound more quickly than men 
whose injaries were of a slighter character, and who had 
not gone through the five days of terrible hardship and 
despair. On the evening of the same day that Doie 
reached Waibi, a heavy vtdley was heard in the direction 
of the WaingoDgoro ford, and soon after a war-danoe was 
performed ; it was supposed at the time to be a piece of 
defiance on the part of the enemy, but after events showed 
that it was a soouting party sent to see if the road was 
olear to Taiporohenoi ; for on the 14th the Tangaboe ohief 
Ngahina arrived in camp, and gave the information, that 
Titokowaru and all his tribe were at that village, and that 
Tito Te Hanataua and bis people bad joined him. It was 
now painfully evident that we had a very resolute and &x- 
seeing man to deal with in Titokowam ; for if he intended 
to visit the different tribes on the coast, his perscmal in- 
fiuenoe, and prestige as victor at Te N^guta, would un- 
doubtedly turn the scale with the waverers, and bring the 
whole fighting men of the coast against us. And by 
marching through the forest towards Wanganni, he would 
hold a position in line of our communioation, and force us to 
abandon all the outposts except Fat«a ; with whioh there 
was oommunioation by water, Thns he would have the 
advantage of carrying the war into our districts and 
saving his own. 

The colony was then at this critical moment denuded at 
one blow of the foroe she had struggled so hard to raise 
and equip. And worse than all, the enemy gained in 
greater proportion than we lost The arms taken from us 
at the Ngutu enabled Titokowaru to equip the recmita 
who now joined his standard. Where he gained, we had 
lost prestige ; where our foroe was diminished, he gained 
adherents in the Tangaboe and Papakoe tribes. Through- 
ont the colony a feeling of inseoarity arose, a doubt of our 
own fitness ta cany out self-reliance, or to combat the 
natives with our own men. The people of Wanganui 

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WAB m NEW ZEALAND. 193 

clunoared fur military protection, ihoagk they aambered 
1500 able-bodied militia, and two companias of IStli R. C. 
liad to be sent for the defence of their city. 

From end to end of the colony the calamitous reverse 
of the Ngutu created a painful feeling. Parliament was 
aitting; the Oppoeition made it a political question. 
Three times already votes of want of confidence had been 
defeated by Mr. Stafford's Government, but this untoward 
erent, and the rejitsal of the Cabinet to remove McDonnell 
before even bis despatches had arrived, enabled McLean, 
hitherto a HUpportor, with the aid of Mr. Ormond, Major 
Atkinson, Captain Browne, and others who changed sidea 
on this subject, to press what were called the " Alarm " 
resolutions tA an equal vote. The Speaker gave his voice 
with the Government, but Mr, Stafford wished to reuigii. 
Meanwhile time elapsed. Colonel W'hitmore addressed 
a letter to the jonmala, pointing out the injustice of 
judging and sentenoing an old colonial offioer on the mere 
report of men who, by their own showing, had misbehaved. 
He advised Colonel Hanltain to send for Ho. 1 Division 
Armed Constabnlary from Napier, which was not in the same 
dire straits that the West Coast was placed in, and that a 
new division should be at onoe raised to replace No. 1 at 
Napier, and brought into disoipline as quickly as possible. 
This step no doubt saved the credit of our arms at 
Fatea. This valuable and fresh division came up at the 
critioal moment, and gave confidence. But at Napier a 
storm of indignation arose, increased to some extent by 
the members who represented the district, from which a 
resistance to the Stafford Government sprang, which ulti- 
mately brought it to defeat. 

Colonel Whitmore farther offered to aconmpany Colonel 
Hanltain to the front, and to serve under Colonel McDonnell, 
his junior officer, for a short time, till his own (No. 1) 
division was fairly installed, and new officers found to re- 
place those who had fallen. 

This offer iras accepted, and Colonel Haultain left 



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194 BEHINISCENCE8 OF TBE 

P&rlUmeDt Bitting, thongh Ur. Fox generoaaly refused 
him a pair, and QoTemment had but a vote or two of ft 
majority. At Patea, the first thing done was to seiee the 
liqaor, " fons et origo malorum," and send it away to 
Wanganiii by the GoTernmeut steamer Shai. 

Colonel Haultain then proceeded to the front, where 
the state of the camp at, Waihi was simply terrible. The 
in^gnlars were completely disorganised. The hospital 
was fall, and no sufficient means of treating the sick 
existed. Snch was the impression produced by the Ute 
defeat, that, nnless in large bodies, it was held to be unsafe 
to move about iho ootintry between Fatea and Waihi. 
With such reduced foroes it became manifest that it wonld 
he impossible to maintain the several posts, to escort food, 
forage, and supplies, and also to have a sufficient force to 
meet the enemy in the fiel^. The natives, too, of the 
Wanganai tribe, who formed part of the force, declined to 
serve any longer, giving as a reason that their crops mnet 
be looked after, and a great tangi was about to take place. 
But, in truth, they were cowed like (he rest, and glad to 
avoid further collision with a tribe which seemed likely 
to win in the struggle. 

Under these disheartening oironmstanoes. Colonel Haul' 
tain decided, to use a French expression, " reculer pour 
m'eux eauter," and to withdraw from advanced positionB 
which only commanded what the rifles from the parapeta 
could reach, and which required a large force to pro- 
vide escorts for their supply. Colonel McDonnell quite 
approved of what was clearly inevitable, and the with~ 
dtawal of the troops towards Patea was decided on, 



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WAS m NEW ZEALAND. 



CHAPTEE XXXIII. 



UURDEB OF COLUHS 

No. 1 Divifiioa of the armed conBtabnlary, under Uajor 
Fraser, having arrived from the east coast, it was decided to 
lecoDQoitre the Hanhan position at Taiporohenui, and on 
the morning of the 20th of September about three handred 
men of all ranks advunced in skirmishing order towards the 
-villaKe. Numbers of Uaabaus could be seen on top of the 
wharea -watehing our advance. When within about three 
hundred yards, the order was given to retire, witli the hope 
of drawing the enemy out, but without aucceas ; and the 
force again advanced. Some of the officers got within 
eighty yards of the pah, but still no order was given to 
attack, and finally the column returned to Waihi, quite un- 
certain of what efTect their strategical movements might 
have on the enemy. The genered impression was, that 
McDonnell would have attacked, bad not Colonel Whitmore 
been present, and vice versA, eaoh one being suspioious of 
the cUier. On the 23rd it was finally decided to abandon 
Waihi, and the Maoriea, as their share of the work, volnn- 
teered to carry Lieutenant liowan and four badly wounded 
mem to Patea ; this they did safely and eipeditioualy, and 
WaiU was abandoned after an occupation of three years. 
Notwithstanding that onr transport corps was limited, 
nearly all the stores were transported to Patea, and the 
force was ooncenlrated at that station, with the exception 
of the native cKmtingent, who returned to Wanganui, and 
handed their anus into store. By this time, Titokowani had 
reached Hnkatere on the Fatea river, and had been joined 
hy all the Pakakohi tribe. His numbers were now eo 
2 



196 REHINIBCENCES OF THE 

formidable, that the GoTemment werealanned forthe safety 
of the settlers m the oot districts of Wanganoi ; and to meet 
the danger, induced 400 kupapaa of the Wanganoi tribes 
to take possesBioa of the Wereroa pah. from which poBition 
they could obserT© all the country, and effootually hold the 
Hanhane in check. In the neighbourhood of Fatea affairs 
were not flouriehiug, the ontpoat of Kakaramea had been 
withdrawn in oonseqnence of a demonstratioa on the part 
of the Hauhana, and a settler named UcCulloch, who vent 
ont to look aft«r his sheep, was mieaing. Months after, his 
bones were discovered in a water-bole at Eakaramea, from 
which the camp had been using the water in happy 
ignorance. The report was that he had been taken prisoner, 
and that the Hauhans need him as a slave to carry potatoes, 
until he refused to work, when they shot him. The pro- 
babilities are against this being true, as the Hauhaas are 
too eager to kill, to be fond of taking prisoDers. At this 
critical moment in the affiiirs of Kew Zealand, Colonel 
MoDounell, dl^usted by his failure at Te Ngutu o to mann, 
resigned the command, and Colonel W'hitmore was ap- 
pointed in his place. This change was not at first regarded 
faTorably by the force, as the oolonel's manners were not 
conciliatoiy ; but he gradually won the esteem of his 
ofQcers and men by his energy, and perfeot willingness to 
fight on the smallest opportunity. He had not McDonnell's 
knowledge of the native languf^e and character, but he 
was undoubtedly his superior in military knowledge^ 
Titokowaru had not been idle during this change in the 
command ; he was too wise to attack the strong posts, but 
every house in the district had been burned, and ambushee 
laid on all the tracks, one of which waylaid and shot 
Corporal Collins of the Patea Cavalry, while carrying 
despatches to the Wairoa. Colonel Whitmnre's finftaot on 
taking command was to order the 400 kupapas &om the 
Weraroa to Patea, and disband the militia, who had been 
raised for three months' service ; he declared that he would 
only use the Maories and constabulary in future operations. 

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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 197 

On the 1st of November, Kepa and Captain Qndgeon 
were ordered to march with 200 Maories, and ascertain 
the whereabonbt of Titokowam, no traces of whom had 
been seen for some days. At grey dawn on the 2nd the 
Boonts entered the tUIi^ of New Taianaki, and found 
that a lai^ nnmber of men had been there a few days 
preTionely. They then went on to To Futahi, and fonnd 
the same signs, bat more &esh. This was sufficient proof 
that the enemy were at Hotnroa, a pah situated only a 
short distance from the Weraroa ; the intelligence was at 
<moe conveyed to Colonel Whi Lmore, but did not reach him 
■0 soon as an orderly from the Weraroa, with the tidings 
that Titokowarn had been at the village of Ferekama, and 
carried oS the Ngaranru tribe. Orders were at onoe issued 
for every available man to march for Te Wairoa, and by 
daylight the following morning the force was assembled 
at that poet. Colonel Whitmore did not cousider himself 
strong enough to attack the Hauhans in a poaition chosen 
by themBelvoi, as he had not more than 100 Fakehas 
available, and the knpapas, though numerically strong, 
oould not be counted as more than two hundred fighting 
men; many of l^em being useless; which must alwaj's be the 
case with levies en masse. But on the 6th, Major Roberts 
arrived, with 100 men of No. 6 Division of the armed 
constabulary, just raised in Auckland and at the Thames, 
many of whom had seen service during the war. As they 
marched up to the Wairoa, the Haubaus fired a volley at 
them at long range; the knpapas turned out, and drove 
the enemy back to Hotnroa, where one of them was killed 
tiRer a large expenditure of ammuniti<si. 



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BEMDnSCENCES OF THE 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

BATTLE OP UOTDBOA. 

DEATH OP CAPTAIN HUNTER. ONE-FOURTH OF THE MEN 
ENGAGED EITHER KILLED OR WOUNDED. COLONEL WHITllOItE 

FALLS BACK ON NUKUMARU. 

CoLOKGL Whitmore hAving noeived these reinforcements, 
with characterUtio energy determined to attack Moturoa at 
daybreak on the following morning, and ordered detaoh- 
menta of No8. 1, 2, and S DiTieiona of the armed oon- 
atabnlary, Patea Biflea, Patea Cavalry, and the knpapas, to 
start at midnight ; and No. 6 Division, who had marched 
from the Kaiiwi that day, to follow in support at grey dawn. 
Abont 6 A.u. the colamn assembled at the entranoe to the 
bush, rather more than four hundred yards from the pah, 
and the colonel made his dispositions. Eepa.with twanty- 
&V& men of No. 1 armed constabulary and his kupapas, waa 
ordered to make his way through the bush to the right rear 
of the pah, one hour being allowed the chief to get into 
position; seventy men followed him, and the remainder 
would have done so, had not Colonel Whitmore, in hia 
ignorance of Uaori customs, stopped a yoong chief and 
ordered him to hold a position on the right, to prevent any 
flanking movement on the part of the enemy. This irritated 
the mainbody, whosaid, "Ifwedonot all go into the fight, 
none of ns will ; " oonseqnently 300 men remained outside 
the bnah and never fired a ^lot. Had they gone in, the 
pah, strong as it was, might have been surrounded, and 
the enemy starved out. 

Heannhile, Kepa's party had reached the ec^ of the 
clearing on the extreme right of the pah, from whence 
oould be seen a long line of palisades at the upper end of 
a small clearing; the ground in front of the pah was 
destitnte of oover, but on the right, the stumps of a uewly- 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 199 

bumt clearing afforded excellent shelter, and saved many 
lives among the knpapaa. For nearly twenty minutes 
this party, hidden in the scrub, watched the pah, which 
was not more than forty yards off; everything was qniet, 
too qniet in fact, for they overdid the thing, when a man in 
rear of the pah began lo out firewood. At the fiiKt sound 
a grim smile ran down the ranks, and one old warrior 
said : " Do they think us fools ? Now I know they expect 
us." Suddenly the silence was broken, a gnn was fired 
from the pah, then three more in quick succession, as 
Major Hunter, at the head of fifty men of No. 3 armed 
constabulary and some of the local forces, charged across the 
open ground and made straight forthepah. When within 
fifteen yards, tlie whole face of the palisades literally 
blazed; it was a wet, misty morning, and the flashes from 
the guns oonld be seen plainly. At least two bucdrad 
HanhauB had opened fire on tbeir assailantfl. Eepa dow 
ordered his party to charge oat, aod led them round the 
rear of the pab, until he found himself exposed to a cross 
fire from a strong party of the enemy, who had taken up 
a position flanking the right attack, rendering any move- 
ment on that side until they were dislodged impossible. 
Meanwhile Major Kanter's column hoA almost reached the 
palisades, and finding tlie enemy too strong to be taken by 
assault, took cover and held their ground. Although half 
of them were killed or wounded. Mtjor Hunter mortally, 
for half an hour the survivors beld their own close 
to the palisadas, and were so encumbered by the killed 
and wonnded, that it was not thought possible to carry 
them off. At this critical moment. Colonel Whitmore 
brought up No. 6 Division of the armed oonstabulary in 
skinniiifaing order, and by drawing the enemy's fir«. saved 
the advanced party from extermination. Major Hunter 
and all the wounded were brought off, but four or five 
dead lying close to the palisades were left, as it was 
certain death to attempt their removal. The fight was 



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200 BEM1NISCENCE8 OF THE 

now left to Kos. 2 and 6 of the armed constabulary and 
the knpapas, yfho held their ground for another balf-hoor, 
to give the wounded time to get away ; they then retired 
slowly — the kupapaa by a short cnt through the hush, and 
Ko. 6 by the broad oart-tracb leading into the clearing. 
The latter party suffered very heavy loss as they oonTerged 
from the clearing into the narrow track ; and the Hanhans 
tbinkiug to repeat the Ngntu o te mann, charged out on 
them, but a volley from No. 6 sent tbem fiying back. One 
ianatic, btark naked, charged right into the ranks before he 
was shnt. The behaviour of the forte on this occaGion 
was certainly beyond all praise, no man retired vrithont 
orders, and then slowly and in perfect order ; thei« was 
no hurry, and but for the killed and wounded, a spectator 
might have thought it a field day with blank ammnnition. 
When the rear guard reached the edge of the bush, they 
received orders to double, so as to get out of range of the 
bnsh before It was lined by the enemy ; this was done, 
but a volley killed one and wounded two of our men at 
500 yards' range. The pah at Moturoa was supposed at 
first to be a simple palisade erected across the upper end 
of the clearing, and intended more as a blind than a real 
defence ; but it was soon discovered to be a work in the 
best style of Maori fortification, defended by strong 
palisades and rifie-pits in rear, and a high parapet in rear 
of all enabled the second line of defenders to fire over the 
top of the outworks. The pah was large enough to hold 
600 men easily, and filled with casemated rifle-pits, so that 
bad an enemy succeeded io surmounting the oatworka 
they must have been annihilated inside, every inch being 
commanded by the casemates ; it was therefore lucky 
that we did not succeed in forcing our way in. As it was, 
our losses were very heavy, not more thAn two hundred 
men took part in the engagement, and of that number we 
had twenty-one kiUed and twenty wounded, or one-fifth 
of the force engaged ; much the same as the percentage at 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 



Ta Ngnfn o to maim. The following table will show tbe 
oampaniea who bore the brunt of the da; : 



No. I DiTuioD Ajmed Oonttabnlaiy 
No. 2 ^ 
No. 3 



PsteaBifles . 
Pale*UaTftl]7 



Thus fell Major W. Hanter, who tiudoabtedly saorifioed 
hia IJfe to save his honour, his last words being, "I 
must show the world to-day that I am no coward," the 
QDJnat aocuaations made against him after Turu Turn 
Mokai still rankling in his mind. 

His body was afterwards brought into Wanganui and 
bnried with military honours, and the tomb now over his 
grave was erected by friends and comrades. 

After thin severe check. Colonel Whitmore fell baok to 
XTukumam, and from thence to the line of the Kaiiwi, the 
best position to defend the settled distriota of Wanganni. 
Major Fraser was left in command at Patea with as many 
man as oould be spared, and the Wairoa settlers determined 
to hold th^T redoubt against all comers. The servioes of 
the kupapas were dispensed with, as they wonld not be 
required for the purely defensive operations wbioh Colonel 
Whitmore contemplated, until he received trustworthy 
European reinforcements. 



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BEMINISCENOES OF THE 



CHAPTER XXSV, 

FIVE HDNDRED HAOHAUB VTTBJS A DAY'S MABCH OP 
WAKQANUI. OOLOSEL WHITUORE BDDDENLY ORDERED 
WITH ALL HIS AVAILABLE FORCE TO POVERTY BAT, 
TE KOOTI HATING MA8SACEED THE SETTLERS THERE. 

Om the l4tli, Titokow&ru occupied the position of Tau- 
raoga-a-liika, an old pah on Mr. Handler's farm at NukTi- 
mant, and oommenoed to build a stronghold, at the same 
time Bending out maranding parties to bum and destroy 
the homeeteada and eettlere' property. 

Captain Kewland, who wae then in charge of the mounted 
men, received orders to waylay some of these maranders ; 
this was done sacoeBsfulIy. The cavalry concealed their 
movements by marching under the sandhills, until they 
reached the neighbourhood of Mr. Handley's woolshed, 
opposite Tanranga-a-hika, when a scout was sent to the 
top of the sandhill, to obserre the movements of the 
enemy ; he returned almost immediately, and reported that 
a dozen or so of the Haohaus were killing pigs at the 
woolshed. The troop g dloped over the ridge, and charged 
for the enemy, but very few suoceeded in reaching them, 
as they were stopped by a formidable bank and ditch, 
Sei^^eant Maxwell and a few men of the Kaiiwi Cavalry, 
who happened to be good riders and well mounted, got over 
and killed six of their foes before they could escape, Maxwell 
himself killing three. 

As might have been expected, the presence of SOO 
Eanhaufl within a day's march of the town caoaed the 
usual panic among the peaceful inhabitants, and this 
feeling of insecurity extended to the districts south of the 
river, so much bo, that two divisions of the constabulary 
were sent to Tnrakina on the 22nd, as protection in the 
event of Titokowaru marching on that place, vifi iha Upper 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 20.t 

WaDganni. This alarm vas utterly anfoiinded and ab- 
snrd, but the men were sent rather to restore confidenoe 
than beoaTise they were likely to be Teqnired. While 
things were in this uncertain state, Colonel Whitmore 
received orders to proceed with all his available foroa to 
Poverty Bay, where the settlers had a short time before 
been massacred by a sudden irmption of Te Kooti and 
the Chatham Islands priBoners, The defence of the 
Wanganoi district would thererore be left to about one 
hundred of the armed conBtabulary and the local foroes. 
AjB Colonel Whitmore's orders were to start withoat delay, 
he proceeded at once to carry out certain arrangements 
for the safety of the district in his aheence, viz., to 
throw two months' snppliee into the Wairoa redonbt, and 
to relieve Colonel Fraser'a veteran division at Fatea, re- 
placing them with recruits snfGciently trustworthy to hold 
redoabts. With a view to the latter part of the programme, 
ft message was sent to Colonel Fraser to march with his 
division at daybreak on the 30lh, and meet Colonel 
Whitmore at Waitotara, from which place the relief 
ivould march to Patea, at the same time escorting the 
convoy to Te Wairoa ; consequently, on the 30th the 
whole effective fbroe, preceded by the mounted armed oon- 
stabulary and Wanganui cavalry, marched for Waitotara. 
On the way the enemy appeared in great force, many of 
them being mounted, and Colonel Whitmore desired 
Captain Finnimore to try and cut some of them off with 
his Wanganui cavalry ; this officer made a very dashing 
attempt to do so, but the enemy retired at a gallop, and 
onr men got into broken ground, protected by rifle-pits, 
where they had four horses killed and somewonnded. The 
oavalry was then recalled, and the infantry sent forward 
as BkirmiaherB, while the main body passed the sheep and 
drays aoroes the river, and saw them safe on their road to 
Te Wairoa. After the skirmitth, one of our men was killed 
by a shot fired at least 1400 yards off, and at a great 
elevaticoii far the man was in a deep gulley at the time he 



204 EEMINI8CENCES OP THE 

was bit. On the following morning, Colonel Fraeer and 
his division arrived from Fatea, and the vrhole foroa 
returned to Wanganui, ready to embark for Poverty Bay, 
As a proof of the mettle of Mo. 1 Division, I may ststo 
that they marched from Pat«a to Wanganui, nearly forty 
miles, in one day, and a large portion of the distance waa 
over heavy sand ,' a feat never before equalled in Nev 
Zealand by a body of men. On the 2nd of December, 212 
mem embarked for Poverty Bay, and the settlers of Wan- 
ganni were left with 100 men of the armed oonstabnlary 
to gnard the frontier ; these men, with 290 militia and 
Tolnnteers, were placed nnder Colonel Herrick, to guard tho 
Katiwi lino. The plan of defenoe was Bimple and effeotive, 
viz., a line of small blook-honses along the border, while 
the main body was oonoentrated in the centre and rear 
of the line, ready to move on any point, while a patnd 
of oavalry kept up communication night and day. The 
operations daring Colonel Whitmore's absenoe were un- 
important ; two separate bodies of moonted men, under the 
command of Colonels McDonnell and Lyon, soonred the 
country between Patea and Waiihi. The former went as iax 
OS Te Mgutn ; no trace of recent oocupation was found ; 
tlie bodies of those who fell at the last attack appeared to 
have been ooUeoted and burnt, as the remains of a sort of 
iiineral pile was found. After partially destroying the 
pah, the force returned to Wanganui. On the 28th of 
December, a rash and unfortunate affair happened to the 
Wanganui Cavalry ; they had gone out for a raid, in the 
direction of Nukumara, and Sergeant Uaxwell and nine 
men, forming the advanced guard, found themselves close 
to Tauranga-a-hika, The sergeant proposed that th^ 
should ride up to the palisades and have a look, and tba 
whole party, nothing loth, galloped up to the palisades and 
fired their revolvers at the Hauhaus, who returned the 
compliment with a volley, by which Maxwell was mortally 
wounded, though he sat his borse for a hundred yards 
before he was supported by his comrades and carried off 

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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 206 

the field. Three horaeB were alao shot, one of them f&llit^ 
OD his rider (Trooper Wright), but hts brother seeing his 
peril rode back, and after extricating him, took off the 
saddle and bridle and rode awa; with them. Trooper 
Lingard also distingtuBhed himself, by riding up to the 
palisades and oatting loose a Maori horse which waa 
tethered to them, thus eoabling a comrade to escape ; for 
this aotion he has received the New Zealand Groaa. On 
the 4th of January a flag of truce was seen approaching 
WoodaU'a redoubt, and two Hauhaus rode up and presented 
K most impertinent letter fi'om 'I'itokowarn, ordering the 
whole of the Fakehaa to return to England and leave New 
Zealand to the Maories, further intimating that this would 
be the last warning we should receive. To their surprise 
th^ were seized and searched, and aa a watch, the property 
(tf Lieutenant Hastings, was found on one of tfaem, they 
were both sent to Wanganui as prisonera of war. By this 
time large reinforcemeota of newly raised oonstabulary had 
arrived at Westmere, aud the drill-sei^^eantii were kept 
continually going to work these men into shape before 
Colonel Whitmore oonld return, as that officer's well-known 
enei^ would allow no time for snoh work when he onoe 
commenced his forward march. 



CHAPTER XXSVI. 



TB KOOTL HIS ESCAPE FBOU THE CHA^THAH ISLANDS 
AND LABDWG AT WHABBOMQAONQA, POVERTY BAT. 

On the 3rd of July, 186S, the achooner Btfleman was 
seen approaching the Chatham Islands, laden with Qavem- 
ment stores for the use of 200 Maori prisonera, who, under 
the anpervision of Captain Thomas, B.M., and fifteen men, 
were then in dnrance vile upon the island. A boat manned 
by some of these same prisoners came oS, and assisted in 



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206 BGHINISCENCE8 OF THE 

bringiog the vessel to her anchor^e ; they l)eha.Ted in a 
Doanner oalculated to impresB any one in their &voar, 
offering tfl awitit in dittcbai^png cargo, &c. It appears that 
some time previouB to this, Captain ThomoB had been 
warned that the priBunere were plotting to escape ; hut he 
evidently did not believe the warning, or perhaps thotight 
it impoesible : at any rate no etepe were taken to prevent it. 
On the following morning the captain of the schooner 
went on Bfaore, and had not been there many miantes 
when those on board the vessel heard shots fired, and saw 
men running wildly alx>ut. A few minntes after a boat-load 
of the prisoners, well arnied, boarded the schooner, sent the 
crew below decks, and plaoed guards over them, threatening 
instant death to anyone who might resist. By this time 
Te Eooti had poasession of the whole island, and the rifiet 
and ammunition of the guard, with the fowling-pieoes of 
the settlers, were in the hands of men who knew how to 
use them. The plot bo long conceived had been ably carried 
out; everything had been done in a masterly manner, 
and the mutineers deeerve some credit for their moderation. 
The women and children were treated most kindly ; only 
one man was killed, and that only because he reBist«d. 
Even for this Te Eooti was not responsible, as he had given 
orders that there should be no killing ; but he had sown 
the atorm, and was about to reap the whirlwind. It may 
be doubted whether Europeans would have behaved with 
greater moderation if placed in similar circnmstances. 

So soon as the eventa recorded had taken place, the 
prisoners began to embark their wives and Eamilios ; not 
a moment's time was lost, and no precaution neglected, and 
in one hour from the time of the outbreak the prisoners were 
on board. ITie ketch Florence, lying at andior near, was 
boarded by them, the crew was sent on shore, and then the 
cable waa cut, and the ketch sent after them ; a simple 
and expeditious method of preventing pursuit. Almost the 
last man to leave the island was Te £ooti, and so soon as he 
oame on board he ordered the crew on deck, and gave them 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 207 

Uie clurioe between ioBtant d«atb and working the aohooner 
to FoTert; Bay. They wisely choee the latter, and were 
■Dbseqaently informed that their lives would be spared, and 
the craft surrendered to them on arrival. Sail waa made 
that evening, but a strong westerly wind prevented them 
beating out, and the schooner returned to her anohorage; 
the sails were furled, the orew were ordered below, and 
Te Eooti himself took charge of the deck. On the morning 
of the 6tfa another start was made, this time with suocesa, 
and nothing of importance oocorred until the 9th, when 
the vessel having been delayed for two days by a head 
wind, Te Eooti ordered all the greenstone ornaments on 
board to be oolleoted and thrown overboard, as a pro- 
pitiatory offering to Tangaroa (Neptune). lliLt saorifioe 
was evidently not sufficient, for the wind continued in the 
same quarter, so Te Eooti ordered his men to throw over- 
board an old man, a relation of his own. The poor old 
fellow was immediately dr^ged on deck, his hands tied, 
and despite his prayers and lamentations, over be went, 
a victim to mad fanaticism and revenge, for perhaps the 
latter feeling had most to do with it, this old man having 
wanted the settlers of the proposed rising. For some time 
the victim oould be seen struggling in the water, but no one 
seemed to pity him ; or if they did, were wise enough not 
to say so, for after all he might have been a Jonah, as the 
wind, hitherto adverse, suddenly veered round to the right 
quarter. The Hauhaus behaved quietly enough daring 
tiie remainder of the voy^e, though vigilant as ever. 
An armed guard patrolled the deck night and day, and a 
sentry was placed over the wheel to see that the proper 
ooorse was kept. The orew were not even allowed to 
oook their own victuals, the notorious half-caste (Baker) 
officiating in that department. On the 10th the sdiocmer 
arrived at Whareongaonga, about fifteen miles south of 
Poverty Bay. During the whole night the prisoners were 
employed in landing the cargo, and by the 1 1 th, 1 7 tons of 
flour, 5000 lbs. of sugar, tobacco, beer, spirits, and many 
packages of merchandise were safe on shore, besides forty 



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208 EEMINIBOENCES OF THE 

riflee, ien fowlJng-pieoes, revolvers, Bwords, &c. This done, 
Te Kooti released the crew and told them to begone. 

It was only natural to suppose thut the mate, when free, 
would have sailed for the nearest port and given the alann. 
But he did not do ao ; on the contrary, he steered for 
Wellington, and bo gave rise to the report, geueraUy be- 
lieved at first, that he had been bribed, not coerced, into 
landing the prisoners. Messages were sent to the Ngatimaru 
' and Eongowhakaata tribes, desiring them to meet the pri- 
Bonere, and hold a tangi before they marched to Taupo and 
Waikato. These messages were forwarded to Major Bi^s, 
Besident Magistrate of the district. At first he would not 
beliere the warnings, it seemed so improbable that the 
prisoners shonld have been able to escape ; but to solve the 
donbt, he raised a force of 100 Europeans and Maories, and 
started at onoe for the scene of action, arriving there on the 
following morning. The prisonens, about one hundred and 
ninety strong, were found holding a strong position near the 
landing-place, having high steep hills covered with dense 
forest on their front and flanks, and their backs to the sea. 
The first step taken by Major Biggs was to send a Poverty 
Bay chief of Te Kooti's tribe with a message for the 
prisoners, to the effect that as they had succeeded in 
landing, Major fii^s woald try and smooth over matters 
with the Government, providenj that they would all sur- 
render, and give up their arms. This arrangement was 
Boomfully rejected, Te Kooti replying that "God had 
given him arms and liberty, and that he was but an in- 
strument in the hands of Providence, whose instructions 
he carried out" Another messenger met with a sinular 
reply> ^^ K.ooti adding that he intended to march upon 
Waitoto and dethrone the king, but would not interfere 
with anyone, unless they attempted to stop his march. 
These answers were conclusive, so Major Biggs gave orders 
to commence the attack ; but the friendly natives, who 
formed the bulk of his force, were either disaffected or 
frightened, and refused to move, giving as their reason 
that the Hanhaua were too nnmerons and too strongly 



VAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 209 

pooted. TTtider the^e ciroumetances fighting was imposaible 
and impolitic, for in the event of defeat our men would have 
been followed into the settled districts, and the whole bay 
ravaged before another force could have been organised to 
meet them. On the same A&y the Hanhaiu avoided our 
force, and oommenced their inland march, carrying with 
them, over one of the moat rugged distnota in New 
Zealand, all the loot taken in the schooner. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

TE KOOTl'fl PBOaEE88. 

THE FIGHT AT PAPABATU. THE COLONIAL TROOPS DEFEATED 
WITH LOSS OF TWO KILLED, TEN WOONDED, AND £1200 
WORTH OF HORSES AND CAMP EQUIPAGE. 

W'hkh it was found that they had escaped. Major Biggs 
ordered Mr. Skipwith to follow them up with some friendly 
natives, threatening their rear, until he bad definitely as- 
certained the line of retreat, when he was instructed to out 
across country, and join the main body, who by that time 
would have taken post at Paparatu. This was a strategical 
point of great importance, as from the rugged nature of the 
country, the enemy were obliged to cross the Aiai oreek 
at a point just below the position taken up, and would thus 
come in collision with our force, whether they liked it 
or not. No time was lost in commencing operations ; 
four days after the landing, Uajor Biggs with fifty 
Europeans under Captains Westrupp and Wilson, and thirty 
Maories under Henare Eakapango, marched for Paparatu, 
and arrived there the following morning. Biggs had left 
orders fur a reserve force, under Tamehana Bnatapn, to 
march two days after and bring up rations and ammuni- 
tion. Camp waa pitched in a valley nnder the main range, 
but hidden from an enemy's view by some low hilU, and 



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210 BEMIKISCENCES OF THE 

here our men awaited their enemy fur five days. On the 
fonith day the camp was out of rations, and there wbs no 
ei^pi of Tamehana with supplies ; ao Major Biggs started 
to bring bira up with all speed, leat starvation aliould 
compel rolreat. That same day Mr. Skip with arrived with 
intelligence that Te Kooti was undoabtedly marching on 
Paparatu, but slowly, as his men were heavily laden with 
their loot. The position of the force at this period was as 
follows : the camp was pitched in a hollow, with the view 
of concealing its presence from the enemy, and waa about 
a mile from the proposed battle-ground, where a strong 
picket was posted, in a position commundtng the spar 
op which the enemy must march, after crossing the Arai. 
The gronnd held by the picket was the key of tlie 
distriot. Before leaving for Poverty Bay, Big^ arranged 
a plan of defence with his officera as follows : Biggs and 
Wilson with the main body were to intercept and fight 
the HauhauB at the picket hill; while Westnipp and 
twenty men took possession of a hill on the right flank, 
which from its appearance was called the " Gaxlle," and was 
almost impregnable ; and thus prevent the enemy's escape 
in that direction. On the morning of the sixth day, 
Captain Wesirupp concluding tliat Te Kooti most now ho 
in their neighbourhood, sent out Mr. Skipwith, and two 
Maories, to scout the country in front of the picket — 
ahoat an honr after, they were seen mnning up the spTix 
from the Te Arai ford as if pursued ; Captain Westnipp at 
once ordered his men to fall in, which they did cheerfully, 
though they had eaten nothing for ihirty-six hours, except 
an old boar, whose skin was even disposed of — worse still, 
they had only thirty rounds of ammunition per man, to 
hold in check a well-armed and desperate body of men, more 
than twice their number. After despatching Wilson and 
twenty men to hold the Castle, Westrupp and the main 
body marched to 8up]>ort the picket, but before he could 
arrive, Te Kooti with overwhelming numbers had driven 
them from the ground, and occupied the hill— this left us 

L:,.:,-z,;i.,C00gIC 



WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 211 

DO alternative bat to try and retake it; so forming the 
man in Bkirmighiiig order, Westmpp charged up the slope, 
and occupied a small ridge near the eammit ; about twelve 
yards diHtant from the Hauhaus, and only separated from 
them by a narrow gully. The ground on our right flank 
waa moilerataly open, with a few scattered flax-bushes 
here and there ; but our left rested on the steep face of a 
ravine, covered with thick scrub, and this position was 
held throughout the day. A sharp and well-directed fire 
was kept up by the Hauhaus, with occasional replies 
from onr men, until 11 a.k., when one of the European 
volunteers, rejoicing in the name of Billy the Qooee, was 
shot dead, and another severely wounded in two places ; 
the enemy also plucked up sufficient courage to crawl round 
the steep faee on our left, and wounded one or two others. 
At 2 P.M., they commenced a aeries of small chaises 
(or kokfria, as they call them) with fixed bayonets ; but, 
OS our men refused to be intimidated and would not run 
away, the hearts of the Hauhaua failed them, and each 
time they retired, doing little harm beyond oausing us to 
expend more ammunition than we could afford. From the 
moment the first shot was fired, our men had cast anxious 
glances in tbo direction of the Turanga track, hoping 
to see Hajor Biggs with euppliee and reinforcements ; 
about 3 p.m. these hopes seemed about to be realieed, for 
men could be seen advancing towards our deserted 
camp. Captain Westrupp at once wrote a hasty note, and 
despatched it by one of the men to acquaint Major Bi^s 
with the state of affairs; but, to our di8>tppointment and 
disgust, it was found that the new arrivals oonxisted only 
of nine Maoriea carrying rations ; most of them excessively 
dmuk, as they bad broached the nun en route ; only two 
of this party joined in the fight, and one of them, Waitiri, 
was shot dead immediately, the others remained in camp 
with the rations and ammunition brought by them. Just 
before dark the force was startled by hearing a Hauhaa 
bugle in their rear, and shortly after observed some of the 
p 2 



212 BEHIK1BCENCE8 OF THE 

enemy moving among the broken gronnd on our left rear ; 
evideallj making for the camp. In fact, Te Kooti, aTailing 
himself of hiB superiority of numhent, had made a Qank 
moTQment, which compelled us either to full back to a 
hill previously appointed as a rallying plooe in case of 
disaster, or change poeitions with the enemy, by driving 
them off the hill they hod oocapied all day. Captain 
Westrupp decided to try the latter; and, calling on his 
men, rushed forward, and got to such oloiie qnarterB with 
the enemy, that a Haohan fired his gan into Wcetrupp's 
face, and literally bnmt one side of his whiskers off. No less 
than seven of the small force wei« wounded in this ctuu^ 
ngaiiist an nnseen enemy, who were hidden behind the 
flax-bTtsbes, and the remainder, exhausted by want of food, 
and with Rcarcely a round of ammnnition left, fell back 
tuwards the camp, followed at a leepectful distance by the 
enemy, who entered the camp as onr men retired to the 
appointed hill, where they were joined by Wilson's party, 
Westnipp wished to entrench himself on the site of an old 
Maori fortification, and hold oat till dayli^^bt, but the men, 
who np to this had behaved admirably, considering that 
moat of tliem had not previously been nnder fiie, now 
b«g)in to «how signs of demoralization ; like most yonng 
soldiers, they conld not stand retreat, and Wesfrupp 
snddenly awoke io the fact, that he was left with abont 
forty men, and that the other moiety of hie fone, taking 
advantage of the darkness, had continued the retreat 
without orders, and were now soattered over the face of 
the country in small parties.. 

This desertion disheartened those who still s'ood by 
tbblr officers, and necessitated immediate retreat ; though, 
as a matter of prudence, the ntter want of food, and scari-ity 
of ammunition, would in itself have compelled this 
movement in tbe morning ; therefore, it was bett«r to do 
it while unmolested by the enemy ; the more bo, that the 
reserve brought by the nine men in the Hfternoon had 
disappeared ; some enterprising Hanhaus had probably 
entered the camp, nnder cover of darkness, and caiTied it off. 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 213 

The Bitnation, at this pericxi, was not encouraging; 
Captains Westrupp and Wil«on found tliemselTeB obliged 
to leave their horaea, swords, and ba^^ge, and retreat orer 
ft rough and unknown country (for the tract was oocupied 
by the enemy) with about forty half-starred men, at least 
seven of whom were wounded, and two of them would 
require carrying. At this juncttire, the chief, Henare 
Eakapango, who had behaved admirably throughout, 
offered to guide the party across country ; his oRer was 
accepted, and the retreat commenced, every one taking his 
tarn at carrying the wounded ; it was fearful work for 
exhausted men, but it had to be done, and so they 
floundered on, up the bed of a mountain creek, oflen wait>t- 
deep in water, and over steep fern hills, till grey dawn, 
when they reached Captain Westrupp's out station, at 
Tapatoho : here they managed to get two sheep, which 
had been killed in expectation of their arrival ; it wait not 
much among so many, but better than nothing. Shortly 
after the arrival of oar men at Tapatoho, Colonel 
Whitmore appeared on the scene, with thirty Napier 
VoloDteers, who had arrived in the bay on the previous 
day. He at once requested Captain Weetnipp to parade 
his men, thanked them for their behaviour at Puparatu, 
and warned them to be ready to start back in pursuit, in 
an hour. This was rather more than the volunteers were 
prepared to submit to, and, after a little hesitation, a Mr. 
Dodd stepped oat as spokesman for his fellow settlers; 
enumerated the hardships they had andergone during the 
previous forty-eight hoars, and conoluded by saying, that 
Colonel Whitmore, ander similar circumstanoes, would 
hardly have been ready to march in an hoar. 

This plain but inoffensive expression of public opinion 
annoyed the colonel so much, that he then and there said 
sufficient to prevent the possibility of harmonious working 
between himself and the Poverty Bay settlers on any future 
occasion ; they did not start in poraolt until tha following 
day. 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



214 BEMINISCENCEB OF THE 

The fight at Faparatn bad been a most disastrotiB one 
for the Bettlenand friendly Maoriee; for not only had they 
loot two killed (left on the field) and ten wounded, out of 
a total of fifty men engaged, bat all their horses, saddles, 
baggie, Bwords, and aocoutremenls had Mien into the 
bands of tbe enemy i in fact, the lone amounted to £1200 ; 
and only two of the enemy were killed as a eet-offl 
Maori aooonnts of this fight are confiicting ; To Bangitabaa 
who, with Nikora, led the affair on tbe Hanban side, sayg 
that only the Taupo men, forty strong, were engaged; 
while others contend that the Taapo tribes commenced the 
action, but that all joined in it eventually. The great 
mititake made on our part would appear to have been, 
firstly, the division of a foroe, numericidly weaker than that 
of tbe enemy ; and, secondly, Captain Wilson's neglect in 
not going to the assistanoe of his friends, after he bad 
definitely ascertaiued the dispositions of the enemy. Hifl 
twenty picked men would, in all probability, have enabled 
Weatrapp to stonn tbe Hanbau position, in which case 
we should not have been beaten ; as it was, tbe Hauhans 
were satisfied with what they bad done, and, instead of 
following up their foe, they remained to feast on the good 
things taken in the camp. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

TB KOOn's PEOQRESS — conlinued. 

THE FIGHT AT TE KONAKI. THE HAUHAUS AGAIN VICTORIOrs. 

On the day prevous to tbe fight at Paparatu, Major Bi^a, 
red^niaing the possibility of defeat, offered £30 to any one 
who would ride through to Te Wuiroa with despHtdies for 
Mr, Deighton, R.M , warning that officer to muster all the 
force at bis disposal, and iuteroept Te Kooti at the Waihaa 
lakes, in case be should reach that district. Lieutenant 



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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 215 

Oaacoigne refnsed the reward, bnt offered to perrorm the 
duty, which he did satisfactorily, riding and walking over 
ninety miles of rough couutry in twenty-fonr hours. On 
Iiis retum he had a narrow escape ; when rather more than 
half-way he met an orderly (Paku Brown), who was on 
bis way to Te Wairoa, with despatches from Colonel 
Whitmore ; the poor fellow doubtless thought the road safe 
after meeting Qaaooigne, but four miles farther on he 
fisll in with Te Kooti, who had jiut arrived ; was taken 
prisoner and brought before the chief. Te Kooti ordered 
his instant execution; he was shot, and with his dog 
thrown into an old ditch, where both were afterwards 
found by Colonel Wbitmore's force. 

The news conveyed by Lieutenant Gascoigne was not the 
first intimation of Te Kooti's landing that the Wairoa set- 
tlere had received. On the 15th of July, Mr. S. Deighton, 
B.M., and Mr. Preeoe, clerk to the benob, were at Te Mahia, 
where they were met by a messenger from the old loyal 
chief Ihaka Whanga, who informed them that the Chatham 
Islands prisonara had landed at Whareongaonga, and had 
been summoned to surrender by Major Biggs, bat had re- 
fused to do so. A few minutes after, another messenger 
arrived from Biggs, bearing a letter, requesting that 
Deighton would march without loss of time to his assist' 
once with all the force he could muster. 

Orders were sent at once to the Mahia tribes to muster 
at Te Mahanga, which they d-id promptly, 100 strong ; then 
it was found that onr whole supply of ammunition did 
not exceed four rounds per man. Under these oircum- 
BtanceB, it was useless to go on, so Mr. Deighton returned 
to Te Wairoa to communicate with the Government, while 
Mr. Preece, by dint of great indastry.Bucoeededin obtaining 
thtee casks of ammunition from the Wairoa chiefti. Until 
within two months of the events related, a private in the 
Military Settlers bad been retained on pay as storekeeper 
in chai^ of sixty kegs of ammnnition, which was then 
stored in the Wairoa block-house; but, about that period, re- 

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216 REUINISOElfCES OF THE 

trenohment was perreotly rampant tlirougli all the public 
departments,' ao an enormons saving was effected, by 
striking the private off pay, and sending the ammaiiition 
to Napier, Mr. Freeoe, with his small supply of bttU ctirt> 
ridge, reached Ihaka Whanga's pah that night ; next day 
the ammnnition was served uut, food cooked for the coming 
campaign, and everything prepared for the next day's 
march ; bnt all to no parpose, for the delay in obtaiiiuig 
sapplies had given Te Kooti time to escape, and otir men 
had only marched a few miles on the road to Poverty Bay, 
when they were met by a messenger from Major Biggs, 
with inetractions for Mr. Freeoe to return to Te Wairoa, 
and march for the Waifaan lakes, with the view of inter* 
oepting the Hauhaus at that place. On receipt of these 
instruotions, Mr. Preece dedded to leave his present forae 
>with half the stock of cartridges at Te Miihia, lest Te Eooti 
should doable back ; and, taking the remainder with him, 
he made a forced march to Te Wairoa, and, on the following 
evening, was on his way to Waihan with a fresh force, 
oompoeed of eighteen European volunteers and twenly-ona 
picked Maoriee, the advanced guard of a lai^r foroe, who, 
nnder the chief Te Apatn, were to follow as soon as possiblfi. 
Next day the advanced party arrived at Whenuakura, where 
they found the Ngatikowhatu Kauhaus nnder the chief 
Bakiro.' These men were closely questioned, but without 
remit ; they professed to know nothing of the esoape Irom 
the Chatham Islands ; so our men ooniented themselvea 
with keeping a shsrp look-ont upon their neighbours, and 
soout«d the country towards the Hangaroa Biver. On the 
22Qd, Lieutenant Ghtscoigne arrived in oamp en rouU to Te 
Wairoa with despatches, and reported having heard heavy 
firing for several hours that day in the direction of Paparata. 
Next morning Captain Richardson arrived in oamp with 
sixty Maories, and assumed command. On the 24th, th« 
whole force marched through pouring rain for Poverty Bay, 
but were not destined to reach that place ; for, at the first 
crossing of the Hangaroa, they were met by Captain Wilson, 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 217 

who informed them of the Tesnlt of the fight at T*apara1n, 
and gave them inatmctionB froni Colonel Whitmore to 
retorn and guard Waihan, a position they shonld never 
hare left These contradictory ordera, combined with the 
news of OUT defeat at Paparatu, did nut tend to encourage 
the Mendly natirea, who had aet their mindn on going 
to Poverty Bay, and were correapondingly anlky on the 
retom march ; in &ct, anything but tmaty allied. Jnat 
before dark, the column halted on the Eonaki ridge, and, 
&om thin elevated position, a long string of men and horsea 
oonld be seen de«oenditig a distant spur of the Ahimann 
range, and advanoii^ in onr direction. The arrivals 
were Te Eooti, with his two hundred men — their women, 
children, and horses— a most formidable-looking foroe, 
when compared with our hundred warriors of doubtful 
fighting oapacity. Mr. Freece and Captain Bicherdaon 
resolved to hold the ground on which they stood, and allow 
Te Kooti to attack them ; oi-ders to that effect were issued, 
and the Europeans, with about twenty of the most trust- 
worthy Haories, obeyed ; but that unmitigated coward 
Paora Te Apatu, taking advantage of the discossion, had 
bolted, and was followed by sixty of his gallant tribe, to 
the village of Whenuakura. Mewengers were sent im- 
ploring him to return, but he declined to trast his valuable 
life in such a position ; so the few men who would have 
fought, had no alternative but to follow, for Captain 
Biohardaon did not consider it advisable to separate his 
•mall force. On the retreat down the hill, one of the 
Maories (who had been repeatedly warned to keep his 
rifle at half-cock) fell, and not only ohoked the muzzle with 
olay, but managed to explode the cap. The remit was, 
that the rifle burst, and with it the owner's hand ; the 
taisohief unfortunately did not end here. >'o one in the 
oolnmn would have oared muoh, if the man's head had gone, 
instead of his hand, but the bad part of the affair was, that 
it was an aitna (ill omen) of terrible signifioanoe, foi«- 



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216 KEB1INIBCENCE8 OF THE 

boding defeat on the morrow ; and certain to disperse the 
little conrage left to the Wairoa tribe. 

Next raomiDg great preparations were made for tlie 
coming fight ; rifles were fired o&^ cleaned, and reloaded ; 
even fiakiroa and his Hanhans, uncertain who might win 
the day, professed themselves intensely loyal, and so im- 
posed on some of our gallant allies that four men, who were 
going to Te Wairoa to bring up rations, trusted their rifles 
to them during tbeir absence. About 11 a.h., the flood in 
the Hangaroa had subsided sufficiently to allow our valiant 
army to croES in battle array, and a young chief of well- 
known courage, named Earaitiana, was sent ahead with 
six BDonts, to observe the enemy's position; in a few minutes 
shots were heard, and Mr. Preece doubling up to his 
sssistanoe, found him engaged with the enemy's advanced 
gnard, one of whom he had captured. The action now be- 
caroegeneral, as the main body of the Hauh>iuB oame up, 
and, throwing forward their left flank, rendered our position 
untenable, by threatening to cut ns off from the ford. 
Faora Te Apatu, who should have held this position, had 
bolted attheflrstshot, and was in fall retreat to the Wairoa, 
with fifty men ; had he held his position, Te Kooti would 
have been checked for some time, if not beaten, and this 
would have given Colonel Whitmore time lo oome up ; as it 
was. Captain Biobardson was obliged to fall baok, to avoid 
the flank movement, and take up a strong position on the 
next hill, where, from the nature of the ground, both flanks 
were protected. By this time. Poors and bis men were out 
of sight, but the remainder held their ground until 4 pji., 
when, flnding their ammunition nearly run oat, they re- 
tired quietly, unmolested by the enemy. Babiroa, and two 
of the men who had received rifles that moming, deserted 
during the fight, and joined Te Eooti. Mr. Preece notioed 
the chief moving ofi' and asked him where be was goii^. " To 
get a drink of water," he replied ; he must have gone a long 
way, for he was absent four years. Our loss in this engage- 



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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 219 

ment, were two killed (Maories)one of whom was ehot by a 
comradeduringtheBtampedefrom the firat hill. The enemy's 
loBs was three killed and one wounded. Thus they had 
gained their second fight by the failure of our ammunition; 
and on this occasion were assisted by the cowardice of a 
portion of our allies. 



CHAPTER XXSrX. 

TE KOOTl's PBOQBESS — Continued. 

THE nOHT XT RtJAElTURI. LOSS OF CAPTAIN CARR, MR. CAN- 
KING, AND THREE OTHERS. CAPTAIN TUKI AND TE KOOTI 
WOUNDED. 

Once a Maori begins to retreat, he seldom stops until he 
has gained the shelter of his pah, imd such was the caee 
on this oooasion ; tb© force fell back to Te Wairoa, where 
it was reoi^nised, and increased to 200 men, by the 
arrival of Ihaka Wbanga's people. Heavy rain now set in, 
and they did not start again until the 2iid of August; 
the main body was left at Opoiti, but the advanced guard, 
under Captain Kichardson and Preece, souuted all tbe 
oouutry about Te Beinga Fall", and Whenuakura, where 
it was found that Te Kooti bad crossed the river, and 
tbe trail was seen leading in tbe direction of tbe Fapuni. 
Unfortunately, Captain Hicbardson had received orders not 
to follow the enemy in this direction, so he decided to return 
to Te Wairoa for orders. This was a fatal step, for, had 
they pushed on, they must have met Colonel Wbitmore, 
and the 200 men would have been a most welcome 
addition to hia force. Hardly had Richardson arrived at 
Te "Wairoa, than he was overtaken by an orderly from 
Colonel Wbitmore, ordering him to follow upwitb twenty 
picked men, carryii^ a reserve of ammunition, and 
instructing him to go by Wbenuaknia ; bere ^^ain, the 



:, Google 



220 BEMINISCENCE8 OF THE 

ordera were too precise, therefore obetructiTe ; haA it been 
left to BichaTdaon's discrelion, that officer could have gone 
hy the Tuki track, and joined the colonel in time for the 
fight ; aa it was, he arrived too late to be of Bervice. 

While theae marchings and counter-marchiitga were 
going on from Te Wairoa, Colonel "Whitmore was toiling 
behind, on Te Eooti's trail, over horrible oonntry ; he had 
with him the Fovertj' Bay Volnnteers, and some of the 
Napier tribes, in all about one hundred and thirty men ; 
while Major Fraaer, with fifty of No- I Division Armed 
Constabnlary, was also in pursuit, on the Hangaroa track. 

The oolonel and his division had very rough work, for 
they were delayed by heavy snow-storms, on the Ahimann 
raoge, and had ezhaneted their rations by the time they 
reached the Waihau lakes, where they were joined by 
Major Fraeer, who reported Te Eooti's tnul as leading in 
the direction of the Rnakitnri gorge. Notwithstanding 
the fact of being without food, the colonel, whose energy 
nothing could damp, decided to follow up; but the Poverty 
Bay VolunteeTa had by this time seen snffioient of cam- 
paigning, and they announced their intention of returning, 
giving as a reason, that they had reached the boundary of 
their district; this, of couree. was only an exonae; the 
real reason was, that they had not forgiven the colonel 
for hia incautiotis remarks after Faparato, and had only 
waited an opportunity to make things even. Whatever 
bUme they deserved fur the course they pursued, their 
punishment was at least equal, for there can be but 
little donbt that these fifty men would have turned the 
aoale at Kuakitnri, and converted a defeat intoa viotory, in 
which case there would have been no massacre. As it waa. 
Colonel Whitmore, with 130 men, marched on to attack 
220 HauhaUB, who were posted in an unusually strong 
position, within the gorge of the Hnakitnri river. The 
oolonel waa nowise daunted by the defection of these 
Europeans, but pushed forward with No. 1 Division 
Armed Conatabulai7, a few independent volunteers — who 

, ;) , Google 



-WAR m NEW ZEAJLAND. 221 

were not partioolar as to loonndaries — and abont sixty 
Mendly nativea, Tlie tx)Iamn oroesed tbe range in tbeii 
front, and descended into the bed of the Baakituri ; the 
men had been Trithoat food einoe tbe previous evening, 
were knocked np by long ntarchee through rough oonntry, 
and were certainly not in a condition to encoanter a well- 
armed and determined enemy, in a position of their own 
ohooeing. 

Bat all theae oironmstanoes connted as nothing to 
Colonel Whitmore, who never encumbered bis mind with 
Cuasiderations for his men ; he firmly believed that he bad 
only to meet the foe, and be victorious ; and so the furoe 
Struggled on thrangh the boulders and water of this 
mountain river. Camp after camp of the Hanhans was 
passed, and, at each one, tbe traces appeared more fresh; 
yet to t)ie hnugry, jaded men there seemed bnt little pro- 
bability of overtaking tbe enemy, and towards noon they 
became slightly mutinous, at what they considered nselesa 
hardship. Even Colonel Whitmore halted at last and 
decided to retam, but, while the men were resting. Captain 
Carr, late R.A., who was with tbe force as a Tolnnteer, 
asked permission to go forward, and reconnoitre. The resnlt 
was, that be found a baltiug-plaoe of Te Kooti's, at which 
the fires were still burning. This intelligence infused 
some life into the men, and a general advance took place ; 
the track still led np tbe bed of ihe river, which ran 
between low steep cliSn, impoesiblt; to climb ; thns the men 
had to advance in single file, npthe river-bed, in a position 
very likely to cause heavy loss, if the enemy should happen 
to observe them, and line the cliffs. The advanced guard 
of six men was led by Captain Carr and Sergeant-Kajor 
Withers, and the main body followed, in long straggling 
Indian file. After marching a few miles, the force reached 
a bend in the river, where a narrow traok led throng^ a 
break in the cliffs, and np the spur of a hill ; the advanoed 
gnard were within fifty yards of this place, when tb^ 
were made aware of the enemy's presence, by a volley; 

_ I .Coogic 



222 EEMINISCEN0E8 OP THE 

luckily the riveT-bank near tliem was en£Bcientl; low to 
enable ibem to take ooybt id the thick scrub above, from 
whence they replied vigoroualy to the HauhauB, who 
were within a few yards of them. 

Meanwhile, the main body had mustered their long line, 
and were standing in the river-bed, exposed to a raking 
fire from the enemy, who lined the base of the hill at the 
river-bend, and ware unable to scale the steep bank and 
lake cover in the ecrub. Colonel Whitmore and Captain 
Tuke tried to lead the men out to charge, but this oould 
only be done in single file, and the men were indisposed to 
follow, in such a very hazardous formation ; the few who 
did try were killed or wounded. Captain Tuke severely ; 
the other took what cover oould be found among the 
boulders in the river-bed, until the advanoed guard, un- 
supported, and hard pressed hy the enemy, fell back and 
reported the death of Captain Carr, and Mr. Canning, 
(another volunteer) ; the latter had taken cover behind a 
large fallen tree, not knowing that the Hauhaue had 
posseeaion of the other side, and was shot as he looked 
over it The Hanhans, having got rid of the advanced 
party, soon made themselves felt by the maio body, and, 
working their way down through the thick scrub above 
the cliff, very nearly suooeeded in cutting off our retreat; 
to meet this movement, Henare Tomoana and his Napier 
natives, who as nsnal were well behind, were ordered to 
turn the Hauhau flank, at a point in the rear, where it was 
possible to scale the cliff. This they might have done 
vrith little danger to tbemselvee, but very few obeyed 
the order ; Henare himself, with a handful of men, tried to 
do something, but his best fighting man got a bullet 
through the scalp, and hastily retired, the remainder 
followed closely on bis footsteps, and continued the move- 
ment down the river, leaving the Pakehae to their fate. 
Colonel Fraser and Captain Tuke at once collected the 
men of their division, about fifty strong, and fell baok to 
an island, about half a mile in the rear ; here they awaited 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 223 

the Hanhan attack, despite the fact that their Haori allies 
and some of the EuropeanB were in Ml retreat from the 
£eld. Ueanwhile, the eoemy were alw drawing off, die- 
heartened by their leader's wound, for Te Kooti had been 
hit in the fuot; and Colonel Eraser, fi ad ing that he was 
not likely to be attacked, retired upon Te Reinga. Only 
a few of the strongest men reached the camp that night, 
the majority, knocked up by want of food aud fatigue, 
lay down in the poaring rain, and did not get in till the 
following morning. Our loss in thin eng^ement was five 
killed and five wounded; while the enemy had eight 
killed and three wounded, including Te Kooti. The 
result of this fight was fatal to the futue peace of the 
Bettted Districts, as it enabled Te Kooti to oamp at 
Puketapu, junt beyond the scene of the fight, from the 8th 
of August till the 28th of October ; during which period 
he sent messengers all over the island, exaggerating his 
BuocesR, and proclaiming hintaelf the saviour of his people. 



CHAPTER XL. 
TE EOOTt's PBOQBEss — continved. 



Tb Eocn was, as might be ezpeoled, very anccessful in 
obtaining recruits ; Te Warn and Reihana, with the Upper 
Wairoa tribes joined him secretly, all the while pretending 
to be friendly to the Pakeha, while Naina, fighting chief of 
Temaionarangi tribe, joined him more openly with nearly 
forty men. Curious accounts are given by the Hauhaus 
of the very strict discipline which was at this period 
maintained in their camp. Te Kooti would not allow his 
men to eat, or smoke, except at stated timee— his expression 
was, " there is a time for all things." So short of food were 



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224 REMINISCENCES OF TBE 

the;, that the men used freqnently to steal out to the open 
coantry, and shoot their horses for food; luckily for them 
they were not found out; aethepnniehmentofdiaobedienoe 
was death. Some idea may he gathered of Te Eooti'a 
bloodthirsty and tyrannical Bystem, by the fate he dealt 
out to Te Munv, an TJriwera chief of Manngapobatn. 
This man had Tisited Fuketapu as an envoy from his 
warlike tribe, and being a bold stem savage would not 
allow Te Kooti'e diotatiun, and assumption of superiority. 
The connequence was that they quarrelled, andTe Uuno, 
feellug himself in danger, atteiu pted to escape ; but he waa 
caught and brought back to Fuketapu, by a party sent after 
him, and was killed by Te Kooti's orders, or as some say, 
by Te Kooti himself. Tbe strangest part of the affair is, 
that tbe Uriwera never sought reveuge for this murder. 

The position held by Te Kooti at Fuketapu was inland 
and equidistant from the two sottUments of Te Wairoa 
and Poverty Say. Consequently it was in that obiefa 
power to attack either place, by a march of two or three 
days. Moreover, it was well known that he bad declared 
bis intention of faking revenge ujK>n the settlers, for having 
attacked him at Paparatu, To Eonoki, and Buakituri. 
In September, a meaKage had been sent to the semi- 
friendly natives of the bay, telling them to remain ap- 
parently loyal, get what arms they could from the Fokehas, 
and prepare to join Te Eooti with a hundred men, when 
he appeared. Major Biggs had so strongly represented 
the situation and unprotected condition of the bay to the 
Government that at last he was authorized to pluoe an 
officer and nine men on pay, as sooate to watch the oountry 
between the Waipaoa and upper Wairoa. Lieutenant 
Gasooigne was the ofGcer chosen, and the orders given him 
by Major Biggs were precise : " to camp every night at 
Waereuga a Kuri," a small bush on the road ironi Te Beinga 
to Poverty Bay, " to keep a sentry on the track during the 
night, and two men with field-glasses on a hill above 
the bush all day, at a point from which several miles of the 



WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 225 

track ooald be seen." Besidea this work, Lieatenant 
Gascoigae was required to scout the countr; on hia right 
and left front daily, aod report oonBt&ntly to liajor BiggB. 
In addition to theBcouts, the major depended upon Colonel 
Lambert at Te Wairoa, and epiee of his own among the 
enemy, to give him early information of Te Eooti'a 
movements ; trusting to the two latter sourcee, he per- 
sistently refused to allow Gascoigne to place men on the 
Ngatapa track. There were two routes by whioh the 
HaubauB might reach the bay ; one, by way of Te Beinga 
and Waerenga-a'Knri, was comparatively short, and over 
open country — the other would involve a long oironitous 
maroh, through dense scrub and fern, towards Ngatapa, 
and down the Makaretu valley. Notonly waa this second 
route twice the length of the other, but it was eo muob 
overgrown with fern and aomb, that it was justly con- 
sidered a matter of seven or eight days' march ; and 
therefore it was regarded as certain that the enemy would 
take the shorter way. If, however, they did take the 
Ngatapa (rack, then Colonel Lambert, who was about to 
lead 600 men to attack Puketapu, would have plenty of 
lime to send information of Te Eooti's movements. I'beee 
were the reasons which guided Major Biggs in selecting 
the Beinga track as the special point of observation for 
Oaeooigne and his scouts. The latter did not share the 
belief of his commanding officer, that it was neoeasary to 
watch only that route, but on the 6th and 7th of November 
he scouted in the direction of Ngatapa as iiar as theMakaretu 
valley, without seeing the smallest sign of the enemy ; on 
his return to camp, he told Major Biggs where he had been, 
and was met with the reply that it was unneoessary. The 
major then informed him that he must keepan extra sharp 
look-out on the Beinga track, as he expected the enemy to 
move in a few days ; and that it was his intention to order 
all the outsettlers to muster for mutual protection. After 
this oonversation Gascoigne returned to his post, and 
allowed two of his men to remain for a day or two with 



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226 BEMINISCENCE8 OF THE 

their people at tho big river. At Bunrise on the 9th these 
inea galloped into camp at Waerengaa-Enri, with news 
that Biggs and all Ihe Beitlers had been murdered by the 
Haubaus during the night. 

Meanwhile afiaira had been prt^rei'siiig at Te Wairoa, 
and coming events cast their shadows before. On the 
3rd of October, the young chief Earaitiana was sent to 
Te Wam's village at Whataroa to obtain intelligenoe of 
Te Eooti's movements; he was aocompanied by three men 
of bis own tribe, and Nama's brother. While on tfaeir road 
to the village they met Nama, and stayed for some time 
talking with him; they then proceeded on their way, and 
after going a short distance, the brother said he was too ill to 
gooD, and wonld return. Karaitianaand the others arrived 
at Whataroa, and were told that Te Waru was absent 
pig-hnnting (he was really with Te Kooti at Puketapn) ; 
but Beihana, hia brother, reoeived them well, and put them 
in the best wfaare. Here the unsuspeoting men wero 
watched until they were fast asleep, when their guna 
were removed, and Belhaua, assisted by another man, 
treacherously murdered them with tomahawks ; Te Wara's 
sister helping to despatch the last two. When the news of 
this cowardly murder reached Te Wairoa, a great expedition 
of friendly natives under Colonel Lambert went to avenge 
the deeds, by attacking Te Waru and Te Kooti. The 
force was composed of 200 Ngatiporou under Kapata and 
Hotene, 300 Ngati Eabungunu under Heuare Tomoana 
and Tareha, and 100 of the Wairoa tribes; there were 
also twenty-five armed oonstabulary, and four European 
officers. At Whataroa, or one of the adjacent villages, a 
piisoner was taken, and from him pomtive information was 
obtained, that Te Waru and all his people bad left to 
assist Te Kooti in a raid on Poverty Bay. Strange to say, 
this information was disbelieved, for the extraordinary 
reason that for Te Kooti to march on Poverty Bay, and 
leave his rear open to attack, would be acting in a manner 
contrary to all military' rule. Te Kooti doubtless had his 

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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 227 

own ideas about military mle, and not only left bii r««r 
DQ^HTded, bnt omahed Poverty Bay, with little danger to 
himself. By this time the foroe was withia sixtvea miles 
of Poketapn. and it might well have been thonght advis- 
able to march on that place, and ascertain the tmth of 
the story. Had they done so, tbey wonld have found the 
pah empty, and wonld even then have been in time to 
prevent the massacre, and enlighten Te Kooti as to the 
danger of n^lecting military rales ; or better still, they 
might have aooepted the prisoner's story as true, and 
marched straight on Poverty Bay. Bat the gallant 600 
did neither of these things ; they straightway returned to 
Te Wairoa, after killing one old man and capturing an 
empty pah. At Whataroa were fonnd the bodies of 
Earaitiana and bis three companions; they had been buried 
in one hole, and were fearfully mntilated, their breasts 
cat open, and hearts taken out. The expedition reached 
Te Wairoa on the 4th of November, and the mail left for 
Poverty Bay on tbe foUowii^ morning, yet no notice was 
sent Major Biggs of the prisoner's statement; had that 
been done, there could have been no excase for not 
warning the settlers to muster for protection. 



CHAPTEE XLI. 
TE Boon's PBOQREBS — continued. 

THB MASSACRE AT POTEBTT BAY OF THIRTY-THREE SETTLERS, 
MEN, WOMEN, ABO CHILDEEN, AND THIRTY-SEVEN FKIEMDLY 
NATIVES. 

Fob some time previous to the massacre, a general feeling 
of insecurity was prevalent among the setUers of Poverty 
Bay, and it was felt that some steps ought to be taken to 
fortify a place of rendezvous in case of need. With this 
view a meeting was called, at vrhioh the friendly Uaorie« 
q2 



.Coogic 



228 BEMINIBCENCBB OF THE 

ofiered to erect the palisades, if the Enropeana wonld do- 
the earthworks. This Traa readily agreed to, but Major 
Biggs vetoed the propobition as nunecessary, and appointed 
the Toanga redoubt, aa old and defeotiTe fortifieation, as 
themuBteringplaoein case of alarm. The meeting ended, 
as such things generally do, in smoke; except that certain 
settlers, diBBatisfied with the result, formed themselves into 
a vigilance committee, to watch tiiB Patutahi ford of tlie 
Waipaoft river. Fur some nights tida duty was carefully 
performed, and would probably have continued, to the 
salvation of the bay; but on the Thursday before the 
massacre, a very old settler called on his vigilant 
neighbours, and informed them that the Kanhaus were in 
the Patutahi valley, at the same time requesting them to 
inform Uajor Biggs. This was done, llie major listened 
quietly to the tale, and then replied, " You are all in an 
unnecessary state of alarm, for I shall have twenty-four 
hours' notice before anything can happ^k." He farther 
remarked, tliat he bad heard some of them were in the 
habit of watching the fords of the river, and charac- 
terieed the act as absurd. After this official condemna' 
tion, the vigilance committee ceased to act, and a few 
nights after, Te Kooti and bis people crossed that self- 
same ford. ~^^. 
The action taken by Te Sooti, to secure sympathy and 
recruits from the neighbouring tribes, has already been 
mentioned. By the end of October his arrangements were 
cconplete, and the raid upon Poverty Bay commenoed. 1'e 
Warn and Nama, with their respective tribes, inarched by 
way of the Hangaroa, and joined Te Kooti and the Uriwer& 
at Fabekeheke,' from whence they raided down upon the 
plains, thus adopting the longroute, and avoiding the soonta 
at Waerenga-a-Euri. ManyofTeKooti's men, who had been 
balf-starved for months, died of exhaustion on the way; 
their skeletons were afterwards seen by Captain Port^ 
and his Ngatiporon when in pursuit of the survivors. 
The main body of the Hauhans were left at Pokepulra witb 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 229 

the women atxd children ; bat about two hundred men of 
variooB tribea, ander the chiefs Nikora, Nama, Tahan, Te 
'Warn, and others, marched for Fatutahi and aurronnded 
the TillHge. The inhabitants were made prisoners, and 
did not require mnch ooercion to make them join Te Kooti. 
Among others token was Fera Fan&moa, who finding that 
Te Kooti was bent upon taking Tnranganni, dissnaded him 
irom GO doing, told him that the majority of the Bettlera 
lived in the country, and accurately described the residence 
of each. It must not,howeTer, be supposed that 'J'e Kooti 
was ignorant of these circumstances; for the loi-diaead 
friendly native Earipa, a son of Tamehana Bnalapn, had 
been for some days in oommunioation with him, and had 
given every information as to the locality of the different 
settlers. About midnight the Hanhaua crossed the 
Fatutahi ford on their murderous errand. Mr. Wylie's 
house was the first on their line of march, and the owner 
was seen sitting at a table writing ; but so sure was Te 
Eooti of this man — whom he particularly hated, as the 
cause of his deportation to the Chathams — that he told his 
men to go on and finish the Uatawhero settlere first, as 
they were certain to get Wyli© on their return. From 
this point the Hauhaus appear to have broken up into 
smiall parties; some went inland to Mesara. Dodd and 
Feppard's station, while the main body attacked the more 
densely settled district of Matawhero. As to what really 
did happen at the various settlers' hooses, it is impossible 
to say, for there were no survivors to tell the tale, if 
we ezoept some mere children. We can therefore only 
oolleot the accounts of certain semi-Hauhans, vrho profeos 
to have heard from others, but who really were present, 
and took part in the massacre. Messrs. Dodd and Feppard 
appear tohave been the first persons killed. A Ur. Butters, 
who had been eng^^ to press wool for them, rode up to 
the station at grey dawn ; he waited for some time at the 
woolshed, wondering that no one appeared, and finally, 
.ftttiaoted by the furious barking of the dogs, walked np to 



:, Google 



230 BEHIXIBCENCES OF THE 

the back door, and fonnd the t^ro owners lying dead. The 
ebepherd eeemed to have escaped, for there was no sign of 
hifl body. For months his fate was a mystery, but it vaa 
finally ascertained that he had escaped the first attack, 
and fled towards Matawhero. On the road he met a man 
named Pera Te TTatuku, who asked him why be was nin- 
ning ; he replied that his employers had been mordered. 
Pera ad vised him to go on quickly, and as the shepherd passed 
ou, shot him through the back. This ruSan also shot 
French Bob the same afternoon, and may now be seen, with 
Earipa and men of the same stamp, walking about the atreets 
of Glsbome. Instead of seeking his own safety by instant 
flight, Mr. Butters Tery gallantly rode to Waeren^a-a-hika, 
and warned the inmates of the mission station; irom thenoe 
he rode across country, to Messrs. Hawthorne's and Strong's, 
whom he found alive to theirdanger, and from there went on 
toUatawhero, to perform the seme good office for the settlera 
of that place. How he escaped is a miracle, for he must 
have ridden through the midst of the enemy. At Major 
Biggs' place he found the Hauhans in poBsesnion, and as he 
galloped past Mr. Mann's house, he saw the owner, hia wife, 
and baby lying dead outside, ntutilated, and one of them 
burnt. 

Native accounts say, that when the Hanhaus reached 
Major Bigt^' honee, they found him writing (it is supposed 
the orderafor the out^«ettler8 to muster in Turanga). They 
knocked at the door, and Biggs asked them what they 
wanted ; the Hauhans replied that they wished to tee him. 
Bi^a evidently saw that the long dreaded raid had come, 
for before opening the door he called to his wife, who was 
in bed, to escape by the back. She refuEod to leave him ; 
and as Biggs stooci in the doorway, the Hauhans shot him. 
He fell forward into the verandah, and the fiends then 
rushed in, and tomahawked Mrs. Biggs, her baby, and the 
servant; a boy, who was in the house, escaped by the back 
door, after the major was shot, and, hidden in a flax-bush, 
witnessed part of the tr^edy. While this was going tm, 

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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 231 

ARotlier party, nnder Nama, vere at Captain Wilaon'a. The 
captain, like Major Biggs, was engaged in writing when 
the HauhaoB knocked at the door ; they announced them- 
Belves aa hearen of a letter from Hirini Te Kani, the prin- 
cipal chief of the bay. Wilson evideolly Buepeoted their 
errand, for he told them to pnt the letter ander the door, at 
the eame time he looked out of the window, and saw a 
number of men moving about; this oonfirmed his euapioions, 
and heat onoe roneed his servant Aforan.who slept in an ont- 
house, and told him to oome to his assistanoe, as the Hauhans 
were npon them. Uor&n obeyed, and enoceeded in getting 
through the enemy into the house, meanwhile the Haohans 
were trying to batter down the door with a log of wood ; 
but a shot from Wilson's revolver stopped them,and forced 
them to adopt the less dangerous plan (to themselves) of 
setting fire to the house at either end. 

Captain Wilson defended his wife and family until it 
was a choice between being burnt ^ve, or taking the 
Bauhan offer of life for himself and family, if he would 
surrender quietly. There was just a ohanoe that they might 
keep their promise, so Captain Wilson ohoee the latter, 
and surrendered. His captors led him in the direotion of 
the river-bank, until he asked where they were taking him ; 
while he was speaking, a Hauhan rushed at Uoran, and 
struck bim down with a tomahawk, and at the same m<Hnent 
Captain Wilson was shot through the back. Thia was the 
b^inning of the end : Hrs. Wilson and the ohildren were 
savagely bayoneted, and only one little boy escaped ; he 
was being carried by his father when he fell, and in the 
confusion managed to escape into the scmb unnoticed. 
Strange to say, the settlers in the vicinity do not appear to 
have beard the firing, for the Hauhaus found the Ueears, 
Walsh, Fadbonme, MoCullooh, and others at their homes, 
nnoouBciouit of the tragedies that were being aoted in their 
immediate neighbourhood. MoCullooh was shot while 
milking a oow ; his wife, carrying a baby, and attended 
by her yonng brother, tried to escape, but was overtaken 

L, ,z,;i:, Google 



232 BEHINIBCENCES OF THE 

and tomabawked, together with her child. The boy, more 
fortnnate, managed to ewape, after seeiDg his aister killed, 
and reaohed the redouht at Turanganai, where the rest of 
his iamily had assembled. Ur. Cadel'a house was the next 
visited ; he had been away from home that night, and was 
returning in the early morning, when he walked right into 
one of these gangs of murderers, and was shot dead. His 
store was then looted, the Hauhaos got viulently drank, 
and galloped about the ooantiy, shooting all the friendly 
natives obnoxious to Te Kooti. 

While the settlers about Uata where were being 
murdered, the families living in the -riciuity of the Patutahi 
ford, near Mr. Wyliea', were reserved for the final coup, 
it being supposed that they oonld not escape. Nor could 
they have done so, had not one of them, a Ur. Ftrmin, been 
awakened during the night by the sound of musketry, 
llie sound was not unusual, but in the then unrattled 
Btat« of things, it was sufficient to keep him awake during 
the rest of the night, and send him out at grey dawn tlie 
following morning to reconnoitre. At the ford he met a 
Bfaori, and hailed him to know the meaning of the firing, 
which was still going on ; the reply was, " The Hauhaua are 
killing the Pakeha." Mr. Fii-min at once warned his 
ndghbours, Wylie, Stevenson, and Benson, and these 
people, taking their children, fled towards Turanganui ; but 
fearing that they might be intercepted by the enemy, turned 
acoroBs the Toanga ford, in the direction of the Muriwai, 
en route for 'i'e Wairoa. Messrs. Hawthorne aud Strong, 
who lived at some little distance from the others, had been 
forgotten in the hurry and confusion of their departure ; 
but Mrs. Wylie remembered their peril before it was too 
late, and asked one of the men to return and warn them. 
This was a service of great danger, yet Mr. Benson never 
hesitated, but returned at once. About an hour after these 
fugitives had crossed the river, Te Eooti and twenty 
HauhauB galloped up to the native village near the ford, 
and ordered the chief Tntari to point out the route taken 

_ ;i .Cooylc 



WAB m 'SEW ZEAI.AND. 233 

by Wylie. The g&llant old man refused to do eo, and Te 
Kooti, finding his threats and promisee disregarded, loet 
patience, and ordtred his men to kill him and his two 
ohildren. This was done before the wife's eyes, who was 
then qaestioned, and threatened with the eame fate if 
obrtinate ; but she, equally fiuthful, and more prudent than 
her hiu-band, misdirected the Hanbans, by declaring that 
the fugiiives bad taken the inlaod track. The marderera, 
completely deceived, galloped off on a wrong scent, Te Kooti 
boasting that he wonld cut pieces of fieah off Wylie until 
he died. Luckily for the persons interested, they bad 
anoceaded in overtaking Major Weetrupp, and, under his 
guidance, reached the biendly tribes of Te Uahia, where 
they were safe. 

The narrow escapes duiing this massacre would £11 a 
Toluiiie. The young boy (James) who escaped from Major 
Bi^s' house, succeeded in reaching Mr. Bloomfield'a, and 
roused the sleeping inmates; there were only ladies and 
children in the house at the time, but they snooeeded in 
escaping through the enemy, though people were being 
murdered on hnth sides. While the enemy weiv attacking 
Mr. Goldsmith's house, where they burnt a child, a Mrs. 
James, mother of the boy above mentioned, was living in 
the ham, with her eight children ; she was roused by the 
shots, and saw snfBoient to prove that the Hauhaus were 
ID the bay. She behaved with remarkable coolness. 
Collecting her children, she slipped over the steep bank of 
the river, and crawled for more than a mile under the 
shadow of the cUBs, until she reached the ragged ground 
near the Waikanae, where she entered the scrub, and 
under oover of this shelter, reached Turanganui twenty- 
four hours after the first alarm. Her appearance caused 
ooasiderable alarm to an excitable settler, who seeing the 
troop of small ohildren, magoified them into hundreds of 
Hauhaus. 

Many settlers refused to believe that the wolf bad really 
oume. Among others, Mr. D. Mann would only be satisfied 

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234 REHDnSOENCES OF THE 

by seeiiig them ; bo Le rode ont to reoonnoitiQ, and at 
Toasga saw five Maories etaDdinjc under a willow-tree. He 
polled up, and aaked tbem if it was true that the Hauhaua 
were murdering the Pakehaa. "Ko," they replied; and 
as he turned to ride away, one of them settled the question, 
by firing and wounding faim severely through the arm ; 
the speed of his hoiae enabled faim just to resoh Turanganui 
before he fainted. 

Mr. Thomas Goldamith, while passing Mr. Hann's house, 
saw them dragging Mrs. Mann out of the doorway ; thin 
sight so horrified and astonished him, that he did not 
notice that he himself was surrounded, until a Hanhau 
attempted to seize fais bridle. This movement aroiised him 
to a sense of hia peril, when driving spiir^ into his hortte, 
he broke through them and escaped, though pureoed for 
miles. 

Mr. Benson, returning home after midnight, shortly 
before the maseaore commenced, actually n>de through the 
enemy, and spoke to them, little BUHpecting that they 
were Te Eooti's people ; the Hauhaua, on their part, were 
probably unwilling to fire, lest they should prematurely 
alarm the neighbonrhood. 

The most wonderful escape was, however, that of little 
James Wil»on, who, as already mentioned, escaped into the 
scrub when hix father fell. On the 16th, seven days after 
the massacre, parties were sent out to bury the dead, and 
ascertain if any had escaped, and were in hiding. One of 
these parties, consisting of Mr. Maynard and two comrades, 
were in the neighbourhood of Makaraka, and saw a small 
poodle dog run into a somb of briars. Maynard reo^nieed 
the dog as having belonged to Oaptaiu Wilson. They 
called, uid ooaxed the animal in vain ; it remained hidden, 
and this obstinacy led them to the natural conclusion 
thatsomeonewaehiding. A regular search was instituted, 
and after nearly half an hour's work, their patience was 
rewarded by finding little James Wilson, with the dog 
held tightly in his arms. The boy bad been too frightened 

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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 235 

to disariminate between friend and foe, bat was greatly 
delighted yrhea he reoognitied Uayuard. He tuJd them 
that he had lost hia way while trying to reach Tarangauui, 
to bring help to his mother, who was lying wounded in an 
onthouse at their place. After escaping from his father's 
mnrderers, he h^d wandered about, sleeping in onthoiises 
for several nights, often close to the enemy ; at last, he 
found his way baok to what had been hia home, and saw 
the bodies of his father, brotheis, and sisters, bat not his 
mother, until he happened to take shelter in the outhonse, 
when, to their mutual delight, he found her alive. When 
the boy had told his tale, one of the men took him to 
Uajor Weetmpp, at Taranganui, while Haynard and the 
other galloped off tn Wilson's. On arrival at the plaoe. 
they knocked at the door of the small building, but rtioeived 
no answer ; they then oalled Mrs. Wilson by name, and 
instantly heard her say, " Thank God, help has arrived ; 
bring me some water." After her husband fell, the poor 
lady was stabbed with bayonets, and beaten with the butt 
of a rifle until the fiends thought her dead ; but later ia 
the day she reoovered oonsoiousness, and managed to orawl 
to what had been her home. Here she got some WHter, and 
then took shelter in the oothouiie, which was le« likely to 
be viaited by the enemy than the house; here she was 
found by her son, in the manner already related, and fed 
with eggH, or anything that the boy could forage. Mrs. 
Wilson was carried that same Any to TurangHUui ; for 
some time it was thought that she would recover, but her 
iiguries were too severe, and she died after her arrival 
ftt Ilapier. 



i.vCoogIc 



BEBiDTISCENCES OP THE 



CHAPTER XLII. 

TE KOOTl's FBooRESa — continued. 

ATTACK AT TE KARETQ. DEFEAT OF TE KOOTI, ASD LOSS 
OF HIS PRIKCIPAL FIGHTING CHIEFS, NAMU, KtHU, HENABE 
PARATA, AND THlRTr-FOUE MEN. 

Even the most trustworthy among the Meadly nativM 
Geeiu to }iave known that the musaere was about to take 
pkoe ; but the! r warnings, if any, were too vague to arouse 
the settlers to a senae of the nearneea of the danger. Only 
a few hours before the attack oommenced, Natana, one of 
Oascoigne's scouts, called at Major Weetmpp'e, and told 
him a long and incoherent tale, about Gascoigne and 
himself having gone up the Patutahi valley, and got so 
near the enemy, that they could hear To Kooti talking. 
The mau's manner was so peculiar that his tale was dis- 
believed ; and rightly, for they had neither heard nor seen 
signs of the Hauhaus, thot^h they had been up the valley. 
Natana's oondnct was never explained, for he was one of 
the first victims of the uumBacre, in which the friendly 
natives su9er«d even more severely than the Pakehas ; of 
the former there were thirty-seven, and of the latter thirty- 
three killed. liientenant Qasooigne, when warned by bis 
scouts that the Hauhaus were in the bay, rode as fast as 
possible to the Uuriwai, avoiding a party of the enemy an 
rottte. On his arrival, he found that Major Westmpp bad 
left with several women and children for Matua. Gasouigne 
was therefore senior officer in the bay, and as such, de- 
termined to reach Turanganni at all risks, as there was no 
officer at that place to direct operatione. To go by the 
beach was impossible, as it swarmed with the enemy, ao 
he seized a boat and pulled across the bay. Three of his 
men refused to aooompany him ; they remained at the pah, 
and with the people of the place, joined Te Kooti cm the 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 237 

following day. On arriTal at Tnranganni, Gasooigne 
found th« old redonbt crowded with men, women, and 
children, and was told that Captain Reid had Btarted in a 
whaleboat to OTertake the eohooner Tateera, which was at 
some distanoe in the offing. He fortunately succeeded in 
doing so, after a long pull, and bringing her back, shipped 
off the women and children to Napier. So disheartened 
were the men, that many of them would have left also, had 
not Gasooigne, and the chief Henare Potae, peranaded 
them to remain until reinforoements arrived from Napier. 
On their agreeing lo do ho, Henare sent for all his men in 
the neighbourhood, and arming them in the best manner 
possible nnder the circumstances, awaited with the settlers 
the expected attack by Te Eooti. Tbe attack was never 
made, as Te Kouti was satisfied with what had been done, 
and contented himself with the burning and looting of 
settlers' houses, and ooeroing the friendly natives to join 
him. Within a week Uajor Westrupp and Captain Tnke 
arrived from Napier, and brought vritJi tbem 300 men of 
the Ngati Eahungunu tribes, and the Hanhaus retired to 
Fatutahi, where they oollected their plunder. 

The first duty performed waa the burial of those 
murdered on the 9th ; most of them were found in n 
dreadfully mutilated condition. The bodies of ilajor 
Biggs and his wife were never found, but it is supposed 
that they were burnt in the house, as a lady's hand was 
found among the ashen. Mr. Cadel's body was found in a 
betteroonditioQthantheothers,for ithadbeen guarded for 
seven days by his faithful retriever dog. By this time the 
Muriwai and Mahia tribes had arrived in Turauga, making 
with the Napier Maories nearly six hundred men, but of 
a very indifferent class as r^ards fighting. They were 
placed under the command of Lieutenant Oasooigne, and on 
the 21st of November that officer overtook the rear-guard 
of the enemy at Fatutahi, and shot two of them. Quantities 
of loot, which the Hauhaus had apparently been unable to 
oan7 away, were found at this place, and several dead 



238 BEMINISCENGES OF THE 

bodiea of friendly natives were seen, who had been shot 
by Te Kooti's orders. At Pukepuke another encampment 
was found, with more dead bodies, and the oarts and 
sledges of the mnrdered settlers, which had breught the 
loot thna far. About dnsk on the 23rd, oar men came np 
with the main body of the enemy, who were encamped on 
the Te Earetu creek, with their women and children. An 
imnLediate attack was made, and after the nsua] heavy fire, 
Ngaitahnpo, under their prophet Hamuora Toiroa, at- 
tempted to obarge the Hauhan poiuttun, but were beaten 
back with rather heavy loflsj Hamnera and Rarauria, a 
leading chief of !N'gati Kahnngnnn. were killed, and onr 
total loes was five killed and twelve wounded. Hamupra 
had prophesied that his own death wonid follow Te Eooti's, 
but unfortunately the latter event did not take place. 
The Hanhans suffered severely in this skirmish, losinkr 
about twenfy men ; but the hononrs of the fight lay with 
them, as our men were obliged to retire to a ridge over- 
looking the Hauhau position, and distant about twelve 
hundred yards from it. About four hundred yards of the 
ridge was rifle-pitted, and our men had daily Bkirmishes 
with the enemy, who were strongly entrenched on the flat 
below, lliis sort of work continued for more than a week, 
vrith but Httle result, beyond inoreaaing the list of killed 
and wounded. Nothing further could be got out of our 
native allies ; each side was evidently afraid of the other, 
and therefore unwilling to try close quarters. A few of 
the best men certainly did try the effect of a kokiri 
(ohai^e) down the hill towards the Hauhau position ; but 
<»ie of them happened to get shot at the oroaeing of the 
creek, and this so damped the ardour of his comrades, that 
they retired perfectly satisfied. 

Up to this time the force had been snpplied with rations 
and ammunition &om the depot at Fatntahi, by means of 
a string of pack-horses, under the charge of Sei^eant- 
Hajor Butters. But this did not last long ; the opportunity 
was too tempting, and Te Kuoii, who was evidently weU- 

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WAB m NEW ZEALAND. 239 

informed by Us epies, sent lixty men under Baker, tte 
faalf-caste, to take the depot, cut off the convoy, and 
capture all the ammnnition he could. 

The party started on the 27th, and after making a long 
detour, got in rear of our men on the line of supply ; the 
first peiBimB they met were two orderlies, riding vitb 
despatches to the camp. Theite men naturally supposed 
the Mitories in the front to be friendlies, and would have 
ridden into tbeir midst, hnd not one of them reoc^ised a 
man named Maka, who was known to he with the HauhauR ; 
while there was yet time, they wheeled their horses round, 
and galloped back, followed by a volley. On tbeir way 
down the hill, the orderlies met Sergeant Butters and his 
packmen, proceeding to Uakeretu, and warned them of 
tbeir danger ; there was no time to make a stand, fur the 
enemy ontnnmbered us three to one, and were well armed, 
BO Ibe men cut loose their packs, and galloped off, olosely 
pursued. The one man who formed the garrison of the 
depot at Patutabi escaped as best he could; and the 
Hauhans captured eight kegs of ammunition, and so lat^ 
astock of food, that they were unable to carry it all away, 
and bad to bum a Urge quantity. This attack in rear 
alarmed the force for tbeir conuannioations, and the 
Bolitai-y big gun at Turangsntii was brought up and 
mounted in the redoubt, which was henceforth guarded by 
Captain Tuke and twenty men. For some days com- 
munication had been cut oS^ and ten men at Makaretu 
sufiered severely from want of provitjions, until they sent a 
strong party to bring up biscuit and ammunition. Mean- 
while, all anxiously awaited the arrival of Kapata, who 
with bis Ngatiporou. was known to be marching from Te 
Wairua. Sir Donald McLean, the then Government agent 
for the east coat>t, had intended to send an expedition of 
Kgatiporou and Wairoa Maories from Te Wairoa by way 
of Hangaroa, to act in rear of Te Kooti'a force, while the 
Poverty Bay column attacked in front. This expedition 
had been delayed for some little time by Major Lambert, 



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240 BEHINI8CENCEB OF THE 

who refased to acknowledge the authority of the (jkivem- 
meut ^ent, aod stated that he did not consider it safe to 
eend away the Wairoa nativea. This difioTonoe of opinion 
waa finally adjusted, and on the 25th of November, Rapata 
and Hotene, with 370 men of varions tribes, started from 
To Wairoa. Letters had boen received from Major 
Wealrupp, stating that Te Waru was aomewhere in the 
neighbourhood of Te Haagaroa ; it was therefore decided 
to march in that direction. 

On the 28th, the column was at Tarewa, where they 
expeoted to receive intelligence from Major Westrapp, but 
none came ; so the chisfa decided to march on Turanganui, 
and arrived at that place on the let of December. Here they 
were informed that Ngati Kahangunu were still engaged 
with the enemy at Makaretu, and were ordered to maroh to 
their sssistance. On their arrival, Ngatiporou found the 
same sort of desnltory firing going on as had been the 
cnstom since the 23rd, and that we had lost eight killed 
and twenty wounded since the first skirmish, without any 
adequate result. A short oonsultation was now held 
among the chiefs, and it was decided to at onoe dislodge 
the enemy from a hill of which they had possession, and 
make a general attack on the entrenchments. At grey 
dawn the following morning, forty men of the different 
Wairoa tribes, nnder Mr. Freece, and their fighting chief 
Hapimana, proceeded to cany out the first part of the 
prt^ramme. They made a most dashing attack, and had 
nearly taken the position, when a messenger &om Eapata 
informed them that Ngatiporou, annoyed by the enemy'g 
ahote falling into their camp, had determined to assault 
the lines. 

The Knrupakiaka and Eahu now joined Mr. Preece, and 
enabled him to carry the hill, with a loss to the enemy of 
three men. Mr. Preece then joined Ngatiporou with a few 
men, in time to join in a charge by that tribe, which 
isarried two of the enemy's outworks with a roah, and drove 
the HauhauB back to theii last line of rifle-pits, near th« 

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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 241 

river. Here they were attacked by three colamnB ; the 
Wairoa men oq the left, Ngatiporou in the centre, and 
Ngatikahungunu of Napier on the right. The enemy held 
their ground nntil Ngatiporou were within a few yards of 
their lines ; then they broke, and flod across the liver, 
suffering heavj' loss from tlie fire of the left column, who 
from their position swept the river-bed. Unfortunately, 
this fire, although destructive to the enemy, was to a certain 
ext«nt in their favour, for it prevented the close pursuit 
which would probably have destroyed thum. Thirty-four 
Haiihans' bodieti were found after the fight, among them 
several men of rank, including the celebrated fighting chiefs 
Nama, Kehu, and Henare Farata. Kama was wounded, 
but taken alive. This man's recent atrocities, and his 
oouiplicity in the murder of the four sconts, had rendered 
him particularly objectionable to the Ngatiporou and 
Wairoa Maories; ao they sqiiaied accounts a la Maoii, by 
dragging him over a fiie. and burning him to death. Te 
Eooti himself bad a narrow escape. He was still suflcring 
from the wound in the ankle received at Buakiture, and 
wfls carried awHy up the bed of tlie creek upon a woman's 
baok. His captui e would have been easy had Ngatiporou 
followed ; but the heavy fire of the left column had stopped 
pursnit while their blood was warm ; and now the 
attraction of the valuable loot recaptured from the enemy 
was too much for Ngatiporou nature, and they fumed to 
plunder, thus allowing Te Kooti and many of his men to 
escape. In one pool of the river there wore fourteen bodies ; 
one of them was floating with his face out of water, in a 
manner so unusual that it drew the attention of Hemi 
Tafieka (a well known fighting man of Ngatiporou), who 
gentlj prodded the Hauhau with his bayonet. This was 
too much for the pretended dead man, who siarlad up, and 
would have escaped hut that Hemi shot him dead. Many 
Maori prisoners taken by Te Kooti during his raid on 
tiie bay escaped during the fight, and fled to Opotiki, not 
daring to trust themselves with the Europeans, who were 

K 



242 BEMINIBCENOES OF THE 

justly Bospicions of Te Kooti's priBoners. In this action 
two Enropeaos were wonnded out of six engaged, and one 
Ngatiporou was killed, and four wounded. 

Daring the fight two prieonera were taken by Ngati- 
kahnugunu. These men Ngatiporou wiahed to kill, bat the 
former tribe objected, as the prii»merB were related to them. 
Thia small occurrence created a bitter fend between the 
two tribes, and shortly after broke up the force. 



CHAPTEK XLin. 
TE KOOTi's PROOBEaa — conUnued. 

FIKST ATTACK ON NGATAPA BT EAPATA. 

On the following morning Bapata and Hotene, with 
Ngatiporou, went out te reconnoitre, and from the summit 
of the Makaretu hills, oould see the Hauhau stronghold, 
on the highest point of the forest-clad peak of Ngatapa. 
Ngatikahungunu under Tareha oame up shortly after, and 
proposed to attack the enemy forthwith ; but Hotene, sore 
over the two prisoners, replied, " We cannot atlaok after 
your Baviug those two men ; the omen ia too bad." This 
speech oon firmed the ill feeling between the two tribes, and 
the whole force returned te camp, in a high state of dudgeon 
one against the other. On arrival, Lieutenant Gaacoigne 
and Mr. Freece exerted themaelves with partial suooess 
to restore order among the tribes; for Ngatiporou pro- 
mised at last to attack on tbe following morning in 
conjunction with Ngatikahungunu. So far they were 
successful ; but when they informed Tareha of the result of 
their diplomacy, that chief replied, that he had ofiared to 
attack that morning, and had been snubbed; and that he 
would not now work with Ngatiporou, but intended to 
leave at once for Turanga, This he did shortly a^r ; and 
it was with great difficulty that Mr. Freece prevented 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 2J3 

the Wairon tribes from following him. This desertion 
weakened the force hy at leaat three hundred men, speaking 
uomerically ; bnt in Ha fighting capacity it was an increase 
of efScienoy, for it left Ngatiporoa untramraelled. On the 
momiDg of the Gth, Bapata and his tribe, follawed by 
Ngaitahnpo and the Wairoa men, marched to attack 
Ngatftpa. For neariy two miles they wound np the hill 
through thick bush, until the advanced guoid, under Mr. 
Preece, arrived within a short distance of the eummit, 
and caught sight of the pah for the first time. It appeared 
that the defences oonsisted of two lines of strong earthworks, 
extending aoross a small flat below the peak, either end 
resting on a cliff. The chief point in our favour was, that 
there was excellent oover to within thirty yardf of the 
parapets. Mr. Preece halted his men until Rapata could 
come up with the main body. While he was waiting, one 
of the men fired off his gun, and the enemy answered with 
a hea'vy volley. Instantly, without any apparent reason, 
a general panic set in, and all retreated with the greatest 
celerity for nearly half a mile. Finally, Ihaka Whatiga 
and Mr. Preeoe managed to stop them, and persuaded them 
to remain until Bapata, who had been left well up to the 
pah, could retTim to them. This they consented to do ; but 
return to the attack they would not, at least at that time. 
Under these circumstances Mr. Preece returned to Rapata, 
and these two gallant men, with sixteen others, commenced 
the attack upon the pah, working np the side of the cliffs to 
within twenty-five yards of the first line of parapet. After 
fighting for some time, Rapata requested Mr. Preece to go 
down the hill and, if possible, bring np some mora men. 
He did so, and found that most of them had cleared out for 
Makaretn, and that the gallant old chief Ihaka Whanga 
oonld not persuade his tribe to follow him. Only nine men 
would go with Preeoe, and with these be returned to 
Rapata, who was so di^nsted with the result that be 
went himself, and managed to get thirty more. Bifle-pit^ 
were now dug on (be edge of the cliff by means of a 
2 R 



244 KEMISiaCENCES OF THE 

billhook, and a hot fire was ponred into the place, and kept 
up till about 3 p.m., when Hapata called on his tribe, and 
they stormed one of the enemy's outworks, killing three 
men. This movement was well enough, provided the i««t 
of the tribe came up to their assistance, and stormed the 
pah ; if they did not, it made Rapata's podtioa, already 
diCGcult, desperate, as it was hardly to be expected that 
he conld storm a pah, held by 300 men, with fifty; and if 
he did not, he would have eome difGculty in retreating. 
Luckily there were no flanking angles, and the enemy were 
obliged to expose themselves when firing over the parapet. 
The difficulty would be in retiring from such a place right 
under the enemy's guns. Intelligence that Bapata had 
stormed the outworks soon found its way to Ihaka 
Whanga's people at the foot of the hill, and so elated 
them that about thirty came up and joined in the fight. 
This Beasonable reinforcement was very welcome, not only 
for their numbots, but for the ammunition which the;- 
brought, Rapata's being nearly exhausted. About dusk 
he again requested Mr. Freeco to return to camp and try 
to get the main body back with ammiimtion, promiaing to 
hold his ground until Freece returned. Rapata's men were 
few in number, but he could depend on them ; for those 
with him were either near relations or tried friends, and 
they behaved splendidly. 

Wi Tahata (one of them) continually quoted texts of 
Scripture to cnamrage his comrades, and old traditioas 
to show that their anccst<ir8 had often been in greater 
difficulties. Another of them, RukuTeAratapu, climbed a 
tree from whence he could see into the pah, and from his 
elevated position did some execution. Rapata, fearing he 
might be shot, ordered him to come down, hut in vain ; 
Ruku stuck to his tree, and came off soot free. Watene 
Tukino, half-brother to liapata, a man of great strength 
and courage, was greatly exasperated at their position. 
'' Bighead," said he, addressing Rapata, " you are to blame 
for this. You brought us here. Why don't yoa give the 

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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 245 

order to charge into the pah, and settle it one way or the 
Other? I will nerer retire." Eapata, waiting patiently 
for ammomtioii, refdaed to give the order ; and Watene, 
to work off hia enperabundant oonrage, Beveral times 
mounted the parapet and fired info the pah. On one 
oooasion he kicked the duat off the parapet into the 
enemy's faces, and yet excaped nnhurt. Meanwhile, the 
feelings of the runawaye who were safe in camp at Alakaretn 
were not enviable. For into the night they could hear tbe 
firing, and knew their chief with his eighty men were 
haying all the work to themselves. Yet Mr, Preeoe could 
not get them to start to his aatiistance with ammunitioQ ; 
it was too dark, they said. 

At grey dawn they did make a movement, hut it was 
too late; for Rapata, having expended his last round of 
ammnnition, had made good his retreat while yet dark, 
and was now close to Makaretu. He had lost five men 
killed, and bad five wounded with him, one of whom 
died shortly after. The enemy's loss, beyond the three 
men killed in the outwork, was not ascertained ; hut the 
lowest computation placed the enemy's killed during the 
operations, whioh commenced on the 23rd, at Makaretu, 
and ended with this attack, at sixty-five. When Bapata 
and his men appeared, their manner was by no means 
conciliating. They strode through the camp in single file, 
with their guns held across their backs by both hands, and, 
not deigning to take the smallest notice of the fugitives, 
passed on, and camped apart some hdf mile farther on. 
The main body, ashamed of their oowardlj^ conduct, were 
afraid to go near the chief; but as it was necessary to 
ascertain his intentions, they got Captain Poi tor to inter- 
view him. For some time the chief would make no reply ; 
but finally he said, " My men have betrayed me, and I will 
have nothing further to do with them. I intend to return 
to Waiapn, and get other men ; and if on my return I 
find Ngatikahungunu here, I will attack them for having 
deserted me." That same day he marched for Turangu, 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



246 BEHINIBCENCEB OF THE 

followed at a distance by the fugitives. Near Patntahi, 
they met Colonel Wlutmore, who, with 300 men of 
the constabulary, had just lauded £rotn Wanganoi. The 
oolonel desired Bapata to return with him ; but the chief 
refused, saying, " J never break my word. I have said 
that I would go to Waiapu, and I will. Bat I will return 
with other men, to attack the Napier tribes who deserted 
me." After considerable persuasion. Colonel Wbitmore 
got Bapata to promise that he would not interfere with 
Ngatikahungunu ; but m)thing would persuade him to 
fight again with tbose men of his own tribe who had 
deserted him. Saoh being the ease, the steamship St. Kilda 
was placed at his disposal, with orders to return as soon 
as possible. 



CHAPTER XLIV. 
TE KOOTi'B PROGBESS — eontmved. 



Aftek Bapata had left. Colonel Whitmore sent out a scout- 
ing party, to ascertain whether the enemy bad left, or 
were still in posBesdon of Kgatapa. The scouts reported 
large fires on the crest of the hill, and believed tliat the 
enemy were burning their wharee preparatory to a retreat. 
Why they should come to this haaty condusion does not 
appear, unless the wish was father to the thought. Colonel 
Wbitmore gave credence to this strange tale, and returned 
to Turauga, where he made arrangements to transport his 
men back to Wanganui, under the comforting impressipn 
that the Hauhaus would no longer trouble the bay. Ko. 6 
Division of the armed constabulary were sent on board the 
Slu,rl, en route for the west coast ; bat, as good luok would 
have it, Captain Fairohild was not on board, so the Sturt 
objected, and knocked a small hole in her bott<»Q ; where- 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAXD. 247 

upfin 'So. 6 were again landed. Lootdng at these orders 
by the light of after events, it seems a somewhat hasty 
oonclusion to arrive at, that because there were large firea 
at Ngrttapa, therefore the constabulary were no longer re- 
qnii'ed in the bay. The real state of the case was, that the 
Hauhaiis, anticipating the return of tbe Government forces, 
were clearing and bnmiiig all the scrub in front of their 
parapets, so as to destroy all cover. 

No. 6 Division were landed only jnst in time, for Te Kooti, 
well served by his sooute, was aware of Colonel Whltmore's 
retreat from Patutahi, and raided dovra npon the Aral and 
Fipiwhakau bush, where they murdered Mr, Fergaason, 
young Wylie, and a friendly Maori. Colonel Whilmore 
received news of the raid, and marched at once to cut off 
their retreat. This be did not succeed in doing, but he did 
come up with their rear-guard, and exchanged shote, with 
the result of one servant killed and a man wounded. 
Captain Newland, who had been sent out the previous night 
with sixteen troopers to asoertain the presence of the 
enemy, came suddenly on Te Kooti's advanced guard ; and 
if this ofBcer had had fifty men with him, instead of sixteen, 
the war with Te Kooti would probaby have been finished 
that day, as Te Kooti was between two firea. Colonel 
Whitmore being close on his rear. 

As it was, Newluud had some difGculty in escaping 
through ihe high fern, and Te Kooti got safely bock to 
Ngatapa, having had decidedly tbe best of the affair. On 
the 24th of December, Colonel Whitmore commenced his 
march to Ngatapa. 

While pushing forward from Patutahi to Fort St. John, 
the Arawa division captured two of the enemy's spies, and 
shot them. On the 27th the force occupied a high ridge 
in front of Ngatapa, and about a mile distant &om that 
place. Here the colonel reoeived information that Bapata, 
who had juat landed with 370 men, refused to march to his 
asaietauce. The report was untrue, for Bapata, although 
aeiiouHly ill, was neTertbelesa adT&noing slowly. He was 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



248 REMINISCENCES OF THE 

much annoyed by the repeated messages from Whitmore to 
hurry up, and particalarly so by the last, which wa^ to the 
effect that, if he did not come soon, Whitmore wonld take 
the place without him. Eapata replied, "Very well. I have 
tried, and have failed; it is his tnm now;" and immediately 
ordered his men to camp for the day. Next morning, 
Whitmore came in person, having been previously advised 
not to bounce Bapata, and all would be welL The chiefs 
first words were, "Have you taken the placet" " No," eaid 
the colonel, " I want you with me." " Very good," replied 
the other ; " I will be with you to-morrow morning." 

At the Wharekopai stream the Ngatiporou halted, and, 
dividing into four parties, had a great war-danoe to make 
certain tliatall was right. No one foil during the dance, 
consequently all was considered prop it ions, aiid they reached 
Fort Kicfamond ihat night. The position of Ngatapa was 
naturally a very strong one- — a high conical peak rising 
abruptly from a mass of hush hills to a height of 2000 feet. 
The face towards Fort Richmond sloped up gradually to 
the summit ; but on the right and left the slope whs very 
steep, yet hardly a precipice, except a^ the spot where the 
enemy eveutufilly escaped. There the side of the hill had 
slipped away, and left a precipice about twenty feet high, 
and below that for fifty feet the footing was very precarious, 
if obtainable. The ground in rear 'of the Hauhau pah 
narrowed into a razor-back ridge, down which a track Jed, 
which was available for retreat, with the help of rope 
ladders to descend the rock terraces. The &ont slope of 
the position was defended by three lines of earth-and-fern- 
built parapets, with ditches in front in the European style, 
Theae parapets abutted at either end on the steep scarped 
slopes before mentioned; the outer, or first line, was about 
two hundred and fifty yards long and about seven feet 
high ; the second line was shorter as the peak contracted ; 
and the third was a most formidable work, nearly fourteen 
feet high, with sand-bag loop-holes to enable the defenders 
to fire in safety. Each line was connected with the next, by 



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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 249 

covered wa.ya; aadaltt^ther it was wliat it looked — a moat 
impoaiDg fortification, witb its parapets luing on the steep 
slope, one above the other. On tlie Slet, the whole force 
marched at daybreak to a conical hill on the same ridge 
as the pah. but separated Arom it by a deep ravine, the 
two podiions being about seven hundred yards apart. This 
place was colled the Crow's Nest, and slightly fortified aa 
a base of operations. The following morning the Arawa 
division and Ngatiporou, under Captains Gnndry and 
Porter, pushed up the hill to oommence operations. Ad- 
vancing quietly and oautionsly, they came upon a party of 
the enemy on the edge of the cleared ground (some distance 
from the pah), who were engaged in carrying water. Onr 
men opened fire upon them, drove them back to the pah, 
and took posseodon of the only water obtainable. Flying 
rifle-pita were now commenced, and carried to within a 
hundred yards of the enemy's first line. Rapata then sent 
to Whitmore fur reinforcements, and No. 7 Division were 
sent up. These men threw up a long line of trenches, 
parallel to the enemy's works ; and the artillery having, 
with great exertion, brought up a mortar, opened a vertical 
fire of sheila with great effect. The shells had to be canied 
on men's bocks for about three miles, over some teriific 
ravines. 

Colonel Fraser, with 100 armed constabulary, and 100 
Ngatiporou under Hotene, were now sent round the right 
flank to cut off the enemy's retreat in rear ; and a long 
line of Ngatiporou, with No. 6 Division of the armed 
oonHtabulary under Major Roberts, connected the two 
parties, forming a line 700 yards long. Thus, all chance 
of escape appeared to be cutoff, for every point was guarded 
except the small piece of cliff before mentioned, which was 
about seventy yards in length, and situated between Bapata 
in front and Colonel Fraser in rear. This place was con- 
sidered too steep to admit of the enemy's escape, and was, 
moreover, exposed to a flanking flre from either party. 
Scarcely bad these dinpositions been completed when it 



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250 BEUmiSCENCEB OF THE 

oommenoed to rain, and continued for some days, increasing 
the hardships of the si^e considerably, as the men were 
obliged to lire in the rifle-pits, which were soon filled with 
mud. For some days a very heavy fire was kept np on both 
sides. On the 2nd of Jannaiy Captain Brown, No. 7 Division, 
was lihot dead ; and, on the 3rd, Captain Capet, of the Eiame 
oorpa, was wonnded. Some of Colonel Fraser's men in rear 
had very hot work. A few of them, nnder Captain Swindley, 
bad climbed the preoipitouB razor-backed lidge in rear of 
the pah, and formed rifle-pits, under the rock terraces that 
formed the snmmit of Ngatapa. This movement cooped the 
enemy np in their psh, and so alarmed them that they made 
sereral desperate efforts to dislodge car men. In one of tliese 
attempts ISikora, the Uaahaa chief, was badly wounded. 
Onr men held the terrace rifle-pits with the most stubborn 
oourage, losing severttl t^ood men, among others the Uaori 
Serjeant Heteraka. CouHtables Biddle and Black h^ve since 
received the Hew Zealand Cross of Vahmr, for their intrepid 
conduct on this occasion. On the 4th, Bapata, after oon- 
snlting with Colonel Whttmore, determined to storm the 
outer line of parapets. For this purpose he told off fifty 
picked men, and sent them down into the ravine, with di-* 
rections to scale the cliff immediately nnder the end of the 
first parapet. This was a work of both danger and difficully, 
for the cliff was steep and gravelly, aflbrding but little 
foothold. To make matters worse, the Hauhaus, seeing that 
something was going on, crowded to the end of the trench, 
and fired down, wounding five of the stormers. To do this 
the Hauhatia had to expose themselves, and they suffered 
severely by the fire of the coverers. Finally, fi'gatiporon 
succeeded in climbing up under the outer face of the parapet, 
which they out through with their spades, and opened a 
raking fire up tiie trench — cleared it, and took ponsession of 
the first line of defence. 

Eight of the enemy were killed in this smart affair, and 
we had the same number of casualties. A sap was now 
commenced from this base towards the second line, and 



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WAB m NEW ZEALAND. 261 

oairied on all throngli the night ; with the intention of 
blowing ap the parapet and storming the main work neit 
momiog. The enemy's £re was now very heavy and well 
directed. At one spot, where a shell had partially breached 
the wall, an ofBoer had stationed himself to fire at anything 
that darkened the aperture. This evidently inconvenienoed 
the enemy, and they retaliated in kind. A Ngatiporon 
passing the sap was shot ^eod ; and while the doctor was 
examining his wound another passed, and met the same 
fate, both being shot throngh the head. Meanwhile, the 
storming party, 200 strong, sat in the trenohes waiting for 
daylight. About 2 a.m. a woman in the pah oalJed out to 
her relations among the Ngatiporou that Ta Kooti had 
escaped. The Slaories feared that this was a trap to lead 
them into the pah, and called to the woman to come ont to 
them ; but she was equally cautious, and would not move, 
until she was certain of the presenoe of some chief, who 
would be answerable for her safety. Finally she recognised 
the voice of old Wikiriwhi, and oame out Her tale that all 
the HauhauB had eaoaped, and that only the wonnded, 
women, and children, were left, was not believed at Srst; 
but as day dawned onr men advanced oautioualy, and found 
that her words were true enough. 

On taking posseeaion of Ngatapa several wounded men 
were found, and quickly disposed of by Ngatiporou. One 
young girl, badly wounded, was abont to be killed by these 
people, when an Arawa native threw his arms round her, 
and saved her fur the time being. But when the doctor had 
Been, and pronounced her oase incurable, the benevolent Maori 
lust all interest in her &to, and, after covering her with a 
blanket, and giving her a biscuit and a panikin of water, 
went his way rejoicing. Some of the Poverty Bay settlors 
afterwards promised to oarry her out ; but, for some reason 
or other, they neglected to do so, and she was finally found 
by Bapato, and he out of compassion ordered her to be 
shot 



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BEMINISCENCEB OF THE 



CHAPTER XLV. 

TE KOOTi'e PEOGREsa — cotitinvsd. 

HIS ESCAPE VROM NGATAPA : THE CHASE. THE HADHAU CHIEF, 
NIKORA TE WHAKAUNUA, ADD ONE HUNDRED A^JD TWESTY 
MEN, KILLED. 

Whek it woa found that the enemy had escaped, Ba- 
pata suggested following them up. The colonel gladly 
ooqiiiesced, and a sharp pursuit commenced. Eapata ordered 
fajs men to follow the trail for some distance, and then 
Boatter in small parties. Ho foresaw that the enemy would 
be too weak from want of food to continue long on the 
march, and wonld therefore scatter out of the line of 
pnisuit. His peneti-ation was rewarded, for his men 
came np with, and captured, numerous small parties 
of the enemy. Those who attempted to oaoape were shot, 
and those who surrendered were brought before Kapata 
(a stem judge), who, after a few questions, ordered them 
for immediate execution. The system was simple ; tliey 
were led to the edge of the cliff, stripped of the clothing 
taken by them from the murdered settlers, then shot, Mid 
their bodies hurled over the cliff, where their bones lie in 
a heap to this day. Some of the pursuers were two days 
absent, and even these brought in prisoners. In aU,aboat 
a hundred and twenty Hauhans were killed, including 
one chief of high rank, Nikora Te Whakannna, of Tanpo. 
Weakened by his wound, he was unable to escape. His 
near relation, Te Rangitahau, stood by him to the last. 

Another chief of rank was captured ; his name was 
Benata Tapara, and he was the husband of the woman 
who first reported the escape of the Hauhatts. This man 
had been sent to the Chatham Islands with the other 
prisoners: but as be was nearly related to Bapata, and 
other thiefs of Ngatiporon, they had procured his release ; 



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TTAH IN NEW ZEALAND. 253 

and when Te Kooti lauded, Beaata showed hie gratittido 
by joining him at once. 

When Bapata heard that Benata was taken and being 
brought to him, he was greatly puzzled to know what to do 
with him ; for save him he would not : at the same time ha 
feared the anger of Ngatiporou chiefs if he shonld kill him. 
Finally, he sent word to his men, that ho did not want 
to see the captive. This was Benata's death-warrant On 
receipt of the mosst^, the party ranged their prisoners in 
a row, preparatory to shooting them. Bnt Benata, game to 
the last, rushed at Lis executioners, knocked one man down, 
broke through, and got into the bush ; but did not escape, 
for he was followed by two men and shot. Bapata Mt 
that unpleasant conseqnenooB might enxue, if his brother 
chiefs heard that be bad ordered Benata's death ; so he 
wisely took the initiative, and sent for them, to deliberate 
on the fale of the dead man. He made a most feeling 
speech, saying how wrong it would be to save such a man 
just because he was related to them ; and expatiated still 
more etrongly on the daties of relatives one to the other; 
in fact, he placed his friends in such a dilemma that they 
did not know bow to decide. Finally, old Wikiriwhi said, 
" We leave it to you." "Then," said Bapata, "ho is a dead 
man." By this time all the Europeans had left Kgatapa ; 
but Bapata remained with sixty men, waiting for his 
stra^lers to come in. When he had collected them, he 
struck through the bush over the Faerau range, and came 
out at the head of the Waikohu stream, near Makioi. On 
bis march, he captured eighty more prisoners, men, women, 
and children, and, wonderful to relate, spared them all. 
When asked the reason of this unnsnal clemency, he replied, 
" I was afraid the Fakehas wonld call me the butcher." 
Our loss during the siege, was one officer and ten men 
killed, and an oEQoer and ten men wounded. Native 
aooonnta say there were more than two hundred men in 
the pah having arms, tinder the command of the following 
•bi^ viz., Te Eooti, Nepia Takutahi, Te Bangitahan, 

,z,;i.,C00gIC 



254 BBMIKISC£NCB8 OF THE 

Fetera Bangibiroa, Herewini, Earaiiftma, Paora Toti, and 
Kikora Te Whakaunna. During the latter part of the siege 
the; were in want of both food and water, and would have 
been obliged to Burrecider bnt for the rain. By hanging 
out blankets and clothing, safficient i&in-waterwas oaught 
for immediate nse. The night that Te Eootd escaped from 
NgatapB, ^e Whakatohea from Opotiki came to visit him, 
and request that he would join them at Maraetahi. Te 
Eooti met these people during his retreat, accepted their 
invitation, and remained with them for some time. While 
there, the Tanpo chief Wirihana came with a message 
&om Te Henhen inviting him to Taupo. 

Te Eooti did not accept, for he had other views at this 
time ; so he visited the Uriwera, and induced them to join 
him in a raid on the friendly settlement at Wbakatane. 
One hundred men were told off for the kokiri, and placed 
nndoT Wirihaua, who was anxious to distinguish himself. 
In the meantime, Colonel Whitmore had returned to 
Wonganui, having thirty-five constables for the protection 
of the bay. 

For some time after the events related, Maoriee of 
desperate character, who had been more or less implicated 
in the massacre, left Te Eooti, and returned to the bay, 
where they were allowed to remain unmolested. The 
settlers, justly indignant that men who had eo lately 
murdered women and children should be allowed to settle 
again among them, fonned themselves into a vigilance 
committee, and some of the members who had lost relatives 
dnring the massacre bound theinselves by oath to shoot 
the next lot of ruflSans who made their appearance. Ad 
opportunity soon presented itself. Three men left Te Eooti, 
and presented themselves at one of the native villages in 
the bay as oool as though they had never been engaged in 
the massacre. The chief Fanapa Waihcpi apprised Mr. 
Wylie of their arrival, and he in torn warned Mbssib. 
Bc»soQ and Brown, both of whom had lost relatives 
dozing the massacre. These three avengers proceeded 



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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 255 

tbat night to the pah, and a Uaori who acoompftoied them 
pointed oat the man specially reserved for Mr. Wylie, he 
having aesisted in mardering that gentletDan's eon. 

Mr. Wylie fired, bat without effect, fur his nervous 
anxiety made him misa. Benson, a man of a different stamp, 
saw that the whole thing was likely to prove a iailuie, 
and bring them into ridicule ; bo, after firing a hasty ahot 
at the eB<;aping murderer, he rushed at the man told off for 
him, and shut him dead. The third Afaori, alarmed at 
the fato of his comrades, made good his escape. On the 
following morning Benson was in the township, and, to 
his astonishment, was warned to attend aa juryman at the 
inquest on his victim. In vain he assured the oonstable 
that be was the man who bad done the deed, and that he 
ought not therefore to sit. The myrmidon of the law 
declined to entertain the excuse, and threatened him with 
divers pains and penalties for noncompliance. 

So Benson not only sat on his own trial, but gave 
evidence against himself ; and the intelligent jury, having 
heard his statement, brought in the following verdiot, 
" Shot by some person unknown, and ssrve him I'^^ht." 

A piece of pure patriotism, that deserves commendation 
in these degenerate days. 



CHAPTER XLVL 
0PER4TI0N8 AGAINST TITOKOWABU. 



After the fall of Ngatapa, OoUmel Whitmore returned to 
Wanganui, and resumed operations against Titokowaru 
with bis usual enei^. The various divisions of the armed 
ooDstabulary were poshed forward, and on the 21st of 
January Colonel Lyon oooupied the high ground on the 



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266 EEMINieCENCEB OP THE 

right bank of the Kai-iwi Btream, over which he had Hliendy 
thrown a rough bridge, and hastily' fortified the position, to 
formadepot if required. A few days later Colonel Whitmore 
arrived in camp, and after reoounoitriug the country decided 
to advance by the Inland road on the following morning. 
Close to Fort Lyon this road entered a bush gorge, of ao 
dangerous a nature that if held by an enemy it would 
have been impossible to force a passage. Of this Colonel 
Whitmore was perfectly aware, aod sect forward Major 
Kepa and his Wanganuis that evening, to work round 
through the bush and take possession of the opposite end 
of the goi^. Later in the evening five European scouts 
went out on a similar errand, under the guidance of a settler 
who held land in the vicinity. They were instructed to 
Boout about the gorge, and ascertain, if posBible, whether 
the enemy were in poBsession. About grey dawn the oamp 
was alarmed by a volley, and turned out in time to seethe 
five scouts running from the bash, pursued by a lai^ 
number of Hauhaua, who succeeded in overtaking one of 
tliem (UcEenzie), and tomahawked him in sight of the 
whole camp, before his comrades could render him afsist- 
anoe. The settler who led them was also wonnded. By 
this time the camp was under arms, and a smart Bkirmish 
took place for a few moments, during which we lost another 
man, the enemy retiring rapidly, bnt without loss. It was 
a most fortunate circumstance for the force that our soouts 
had discovered the ambush, which the enemy had laid on 
either side of the ravine through which the road ran. Had 
the discovery been delayed one half-hour, Nos. 3 and 6 
Divisions would have marched into the very centre of their 
enemies, and have been shot down without the emalletit 
chance of retaliation. Immediate advantt^ was taken 
of the Hauhaus' retreat. Four divieiona of armed con- 
stabulary followed up, passed the gorge, and took up a 
position abouttwo miles beyond. Here the force concentrated 
and on the 2ud of February advanced upon Tauranga-a-heka 
pah, of which the main body of the Hauhaus held possession. 



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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 257 

Three diTisions of the oonatabulary Bkirmiiihed aorose the 
open ground in front of the pah, and took oover under a 
loi^ line of bank and ditoh ; Buffioiently near to (he enemy 
to be able to exchange rather strong repartee between the 
oocasional volleys. This position was held all night, as 
it was intended to eurronnd the pah on the following 
morplng ; but just before dawn the Hanhaa fire stopped, 
and OUT men no longer receiTed answers to their challenges. 
The divisions waited anxiously for daybreak, when Con- 
stable Blaok of No. 1 Armed ConstabuWy volanteered to 
reconnoitre the pah ; he jnmped over the hank and walked 
coolly np to the palisades, climbed np, and found that the 
enemy had gone away during the night. This pah, like that 
at Moturoa, was beantifulLy built ; the oasemates would 
hare held 500 men, and could only have been taken by 
mining, or by starving the garrison. Instant pursuit was 
ordered, and while the Europeans followed the track leading 
to the Weraroa, Eepa and twelve of his men followed the 
Hanban trail through the busb to the Earaka Flat, where 
he suddenly found himself in the midst of the enemy's rear- 
guard. Fortunately for Eepa, the enemy could not fire for 
fear of ehootuig eaoh other, bo this brave little band fired a 
voll^ into the thickest of their foes, then clubbed their 
rifles, and broke through the ring, leaving one of their own 
men and three of the enemy dead behind them. The 
firing brought up So. 3 Division, just arrived at the 
Weraroch l^ey crossed the deep ravine separating the two 
plateaus, and while deployii^ on the Earaka received a 
volley which wounded three men 1 the fire was retumed.and 
Te Bitemona, a chief of Ngaruahine, killed. This satisfied 
the Hauhaus, who continued their retreat across the 
Waitotara, leaving behind them the headless body of Hon 
Baukawa, who had been killed when Eepa was smrounded. 
On the 4th, the force waa employed in searching for the 
enemy, but fuled to find them. On the following day 200 
men marched to Uoturoa, under the impression that 
Titokowam had re-oooupied that stronghold; but it was 

8 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



2fiS BEHIKISOEKOES OF THE 

sot 80, it bad eridently not been visited sinoo the figbt on 
the 7tb of November. The bodies of those men who had been 
left on the field that day, or rather what waa left of them, 
for they "had been treated in the same manner as at Te 
Ngntu, were collected, brought away, and bomt in one high 
pyre. On the return of the foroe to the Wetaioa, intel- 
ligence was received that two settlers, Messra. Brewer 
and Williams, who had gone out to look for oattle, were 
missing ; it was concluded as a matter of course that 
they had been waylaid and killed, but to the great de- 
list of everyone in camp, they tamed np that night, and 
reported that they had been chased by the Hanhana, and 
had only escaped by hiding In the bash until it was dark. 
From this it was evident that the wily foe were still lurking 
in the neighbourhood, and a week later the force received 
a strong confirmation of the fact. Colonels Fraser and 
Herrick, and Major Cummiog, while visiting the camp at 
the Earaka, were informed that there were quantities of 
peaches on the other side of the Waitotara river ; the two 
latter wished to go and get them, but Colonel Fraser 
demurred, objecting to walk tip the steep hill. 

Sergeant Menties, of No. 2 Division, hearing the distnu- 
sion, Tolanteered to go for the peaahos. After obtaining 
Colonel KoDonnell's permission, he took nine men and 
crossed the river in a small oanoe. They were quietly 
gathering the fruit, UDOonsoioasof the presence of an enemy, 
when a volley was fired at thoiL None were hit ; they 
seized their rifles, and instead of making a stand Tinder th» 
shelter of the river-bank, they foolishly tried to get into 'Uie 
oanoe. The enemy, seven^ strong, took advantage of this, 
and lining the river-bank, shot them down one by one. Ho. 2 
Division, hearing the firing, rushed to the rescue, bat too 
late; they reoovered the canoe,and,croesing,faimdSeif;eaat 
Uenzies frightfally tomahawked, his left leg having be^ 
ont off and taken away. Another man was found who had 
snooeeded in swimming the river, and had been shot through 
the head jnst as be landed. Of the ten men, seven were 



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WAE DT NEW ZEALAND. 259 

killed and one wounded. This unfortunate offiui caet a 
gloom over the whole camp, bnt it also taught the men a 
naefiil lesBon, though at the expense of aoTen lives. The - 
Hauhaus, elated by their suocees, tried another ambush on 
the foUowing daj*, but without reiinlt. The Arawas of 
No. 8 Division fell back in oonfusiou, bnt Kepa and bis 
Wanganuis charged through them, and the enemy saved 
themselveB by a precipitate retreat, and their knowlec^ 
of the ground. 



CHAPTER XLVIL 
0PEBATI0N8 AGAINST TITOSOWABU — eotUiwOed. 

HURDER OF THE REV. MR. WBITELT, UEUTENANT AND MRS, 
GA3C0I0NE, AND THREE CHILDREN. SKIRMISH AT OTAUTO 
ON THE PATEA RIVER. ATTACK ON TE NOAIHERE. 

On the 20th, intelligence reached Colonel Whitmore that the 
Bev. Mr. Wbitely, Lieateuant Gasooigne, Mrs. Gascoigne, 
and three children had been murdered at the White 
Clifis, north of TaranaM, by the chief Wetere, and his 
NgatimaniapotoB. No motive for this diabolical act has 
ever been assigned, aud it can only be supposed to have 
originated in an outburst of fanaticism on the part of the 
king (Tawbiao), as both Wetere and Beibana accused him 
of having instigated the outrage. 

The Eev. Mr. Whitely was about the last man in New 
Zealand whom the Maorie« ought to have murdered, for 
he was one of their sincerest friends. He was not one 
of those mieeionaries who, beoaoae they sympathise with 
the Maori, think it necessary to abuse their own countiy- 
men, and he was respected accordingly; for a Maori is 
ever suspicious of those whose zeal leads them to decry 
their own kindred. 

This crime plaoed the oolonel in a difScnlty by 
foroing him to send 100 men to Taranaki, as a protection 
82 



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260 REMINISCENCEB OP THE 

AgaiDBt any further outbreak on that side ; but it did not 
prevent his carrying on the pursuit of Titokowani. Up 
to die 7th of Maroh, the force was employed searching the 
0pper Waitotara for the enemy ; but vithout effect. Maori- 
bnilt stretchers were found, showing that they had several 
casualties, and in one village the Arawas disinterred a 
body, that had evidently been shot only a short time pre- 
vionsly. On the 8th, Colonel St. John, commanding at 
Patea, reported Titokowani and hie force in the neigh- 
bonrhood of the Futahi and New Taranaki. Colonel 
'Whinnore started in parsnit, bnt not soon enough to stop 
the enemy laying an ambuscade on the eea cliffii at the 
moutb of the Whenuakiira, and attacking the ba^^age 
convoy ; had the execution been as bold as the design, they 
must have met with great suocess, sa the officer in ohaige 
of the convoy. Lieutenant Hnnter, had but few men, and 
some of them behaved badly. Yet so feeble was the 
Hauhau attack, that he beat them off without losing a man. 
By this time the scouts had asoertained that the enemy 
were at Otanto, a village on the left bank of the Fatea 
river; and on the evening of the 12th, two columns under 
Colonels St. John and Wbitmore started to attack the 
position. The left, under St John, 200 strong, marched up 
the right bank of the Patea, and occupied Otoia and the 
fords of the river, so as to cut off retreat in that direotiou ; 
while Colonel Whitinore with 400 men proceeded up the 
left bank to attack Otauto. The morning -was very misty, 
and our leading men almost stumbled over the advanced 
picket of the Hauhaua, who fired and retreated on their 
main body, rousing (hem to a sense of their danger. The 
divisions were at once deployed into line and pushed for- 
ward, but they found themselves exposed to hO heavy a fire 
from the enemy, rendered invisible by the mist, that they 
were compelled to halt, and lie down until the tog lifted. 
Ait«r about half an hour's heavy firing, which did but little 
harm, objects became clearer, and Eepa reported that the 
enemy's camp waa within a few yards. A geneial chaige 



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WAB m HEW ZEALAin>. 261 

ma ordered and thf enemy retreated, dosely followed by 
the Wnnganais, who retanied about soon, harmg killed 
two or three stia^lers and captared two women. 

On the first alarm the enemy had abandoned their oamp, 
which wtM pitched on the edge of a deep ravine, and had 
taken cover jnst nnder the edge of the platean, in apoaition 
evidently chosen beforehand, whence their fire conld 
■weep the ground all roand the camp, without the smallettt 
danger to themselves. Had not onr men halted and taken 
oover when they did, our loss wonld have been serions, as 
the enemy, covered by the mist, wonld have continued 
their fire nntil our men had almost touched them, ^vhile 
we, unconscious of the deep ravine, wonld have fired over 
their heads. As it was, we had six killed and twelve 
woanded, whereas the enemy did not lose more than three 
men during the fight. On the 16th, Kepa, who had been 
some days soouring the country, sent word that he had 
found the enemy inforce at Te Whakamaru. Colonel Lyon, 
who was then in command of the column, pushed forward 
and joined Kepa on the evening of the 17th, and the whole 
lay in ambush within a few hundred yards of their fees, 
waiting for daylight. The plan of attack agreed npon 
was that Eepa, with the Wanganuis and th.6 Arawas, 
should make a long detour, and take up a position in rear 
of the Hanhaus, while Colonel Lyon with the Europeans 
attacked them at first dawn of day. Could this plan have 
been carried out, it must have resulted in the extermination 
of the enemy ; but their good fortune helped them on this 
as on other occasions. 

Daring the night, Titokowaru and other chiefs could be 
heard speaking to their people, lamenting their losses at 
Otauto, and disputing as to the route by which the retreat 
ahoold be continued. While this was going on, a mounted 
scont, whom we afterwards heard was Katene, came &om 
the enemy, and rode through the advanced guard without 
•eeing them ; but nntbrtunately discovered the main body. 



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262 BEMINISCENCE8 OF THE 

and galloped back firing his revolTOT. Onr men, knowing 
that their cbance waa gone, harried forward to the attack, 
and found that the chief who two months before had 
threatened to drive the Pakeha into the sea, and who really 
believed he could do it, had bolted ignominiooaly. Again 
Kepa started in pursuit, with a picked force of Wanganni, 
Arawa, and Buropeans. The enemy were fonnd very mndt 
scattered, as though they apprehended pursuit. Three 
men who had taken shelter in the trees were shot, and three 
women captured, and brought into camp, where they gave 
the important information that the Hauhaus were retreAl^ 
ing on Te Kgalhere, tiiat almost mythical stronghold of 
which everyone had heard something, but which no one 
had seen. 

Te Ngaihere is situated about Eizteen miles inUnd of 
Keteonetea, and is a large island in the centre of a broad 
quakit^ swamp, the narrowest portion of which is four 
hundred yards across. In former times, the Ngatitnpaeft 
tribe, after meeting reveraea in the field, would retreat to 
this natural fortress, where they were perfectly safe from 
pursuit. It is quite probable that the swamp was deeper 
and more impassable in those days, for thongh difficult and 
even dangerous of passage, it does not offer insnperaUe 
obstacles at the present time. Of this fact Colonel 
Whitmore was not aware, and proceeded under the im- 
pression that the dangers were as great as formerly. The 
force marched &om Keteonetea on the 20tli, and camped 
near Tirotiromoana, and on the evening of the following 
day reached Te Ngaihere. It was neoessary to devise some 
means of crossing the swamp, and Colonel Whitmore, seldom 
at a loss, ordered the whole force to employ themselves in 
making supplejack hurdles, fifteen feet loi^ and four feet 
wide, sufGcieut to cover four hundred yards of swamp. 
So well and silently was this work carried ent, that the 
hurdlra were all finished, carried to Xbe swamp, and laid 
across it, by the evening of the 24th, and this without 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 263 

alarming the enemy, who had not the elighiest idea that 
the furce was in their immediate vioiaity. At 4 a.h. on 
the 2Mh the oolnmn b^^n to orosa ; it was easy work for 
the first hundred, but before the last man had paased, the 
fibroQH quaking sarfaoe had ennk under the preasure, and 
the men were np to their knoes in mnddy water. Leaving 
Colonel Lyon to hold the t^Ce-de-pont in case of retreat 
being necetwary, Oolunel Whitmore pushed forward, and 
havisg partially sorronnded the kainga before dawn, 
he felt certain of success. So oloee were the men to the 
enemy before tbey were discovered, that they heard one 
of the Hauhaus say, " Soon thiu evil man " (Titokowam) 
" will cause the Wanganuis to come down upon ns at 
night, and destroy us." The people of this village bad no 
great love for Tltoko, and had refused to join him. Their 
astonishment on discoverii^ onr men was most anmsing ; 
some ran away, while others ran towards us, giving as 
welcome, and the Wanganuis called out to our men not 
to fire, as their ohie& Aperaniko and Kawana Paipai were 
among the people of the village. Men, women, and 
ohildren were seen eaoaping aoruss the Bwamp within 
fifty yards of onr lino, and no order vrae given to fire, 
as Colonel Whitmore was under the impression that they 
belonged to the Ngatitupaea, whereas they were really 
Titokowam's tribe. When the fugitives had gained a fair 
start, Takarangi, chief of Te Ngaihere, oame forward to 
welcome Colonel Whitmore, and explained that the people 
who had run away belonged to the Aranknkn tribe, who 
were afraid to trust themselves with the Pakeha. 

The colonel had never heard of these people, and did 
not know that they were rank Hauhaus, who, under the 
direetioa of Titoko, had been eng^ed in every action 
against us, and had lost their leading chief Kaake at Te 
Ngntu o te manu. When at last he was made acquainted 
with the state of affairs, the enemy had got a long start, 
and it was too late to overtake them. Takarangi admitted 



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261 BEMINI8GENCE8 OF THE 

afterwards tbat there were ten of Titolco'a men in the 
kftinga, bnt that he had been^ afraid to say so. The failure 
of this ably conceived and well exeonted plan mast be 
attributed entirely to the Wangauni tribe, in their anxiety 
to save their near relatives, the Kgatitapaea, and to pay 
off an old debt of gratitude to Titokowam. 

This debt had been incurred nearly forty years before, 
when the Ngatipehi of Taupo, 200 atroug, under To 
Wbakarau and Tauteka, made a raid npon the Waiiotara 
tribe ; at first they were succeeaful, but delayed t^eir return 
march bo long, that they allowed the tribes of Taiaitaki 
Nagtiruanoi and the Pakakohl to muster to the number 
of 1100 men. This strong war party fuund the Taupo 
tribe entrenched at the Patoka pab, an immediate attack 
was made, and the result was that -very few of Ngatipehi 
escaped. Only one man was spared by the victors, and 
that man happened to be a Wanganui, and a near relation 
of the obief Pehi Turoa. He was saved by the father of 
Titokowam. 



CHAPTER XLVni. 

OPEBATIOHS AOAINST TITOEOWABQ — eoniitiiud. 

COLONEL WHITMORE MARCHES OS GESERAL CHUTTS TRACK TO 
TARANAKl. HUNTING UP STRAGGLERS. CAPTURE OF PACA- 
KOHI BY MAJOR SOAKK 

The Hauhaus had apparently retreated in the direction 
of Ngtimam, inland of the Waitara river ; but as it was 
possible that straggling parties of the enemy might be in 
the neighbourhood of Te Ngutu, Colonel Whitmoro sent the 
chief Eepa to scout that country. This was done on the 
3rd of April, bat no traoe of the enemy was found, and it 
was evident tbat the Hauhaus had really deserted their 
country. Such being the case, the Wanganuis were sent 



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WAB m NEW ZEALAND. 265 

bacli: to their liomeB, and the European portioQ of the force, 
318 of all ranks, under Colonel St, John, marched through 
the boBh by General Chute's track to the Waitara. The 
column camped that evening at the Patea river ; they had 
been delayed by the illness of Culonel Fraser, who had an 
epileptic fit on the road, and a portion of the force were 
detached to carry him back to Fatea. The aecoud day's 
march brought the column to Mataitawa, and on the aftoi^ 
noon of the following day they reached the Waitara. From 
here Colonel Whitmore and the Hon. J. C. Bichmond re- 
connoitred Mokan from the deck of the Siurt; but decided 
that the landing would be attended with too muoh danger, 
and that it was not adviKable to attempt an att&ck. The 
various divisions were thorefore embarked for TaurangajOn 
the long-projected campaign gainst the warlike Uriwera 
tribes, iu their own mountain fastnesses. Operations against 
the Hauhans in the Patea district did not oease with Colonel 
Whitmore's departure. Titoko and the Kgaruahine tribe 
had certainly cleared out of the districts, but his allies the 
Fakakohi and Ng&rauru, numbering about two hundred 
fighting men, were still to the fore, if they coald only be 
found. These tribes had joined Titoko while successful, 
and deserted him immediately after the fight at Otanto, 
when it became evident to them that the Fakeha would be 
too much for the Hauhau, who were now about to reap the 
reward of their misdeeds. Colonel Lyon was left in charge 
of the Fatea district, and he had under hia oommand about 
two hundred of the constabulary, including No. 9 Division 
(Ngatiporou) and several local volunteer oorps, the majority 
(rf whom were tried men. 

Captain Bryoe of the Eaiiwi oavalry commenced the 
work that ended so successfully. During the latter end of 
March, while scouting the bush behind Fakaraka, that officer 
took prisoners a min, woman, and child ; the man was 
spared on condition that he acted as guide to an expedition 
then forming to proceed up the Waitotara river. On the 



Diqiliz'DdbyGoOgle 



let of April a party of 143 tnen, under tli« oonunand of 
Major Noake, started through the bush to strike the river 
inland, and on the second day arrlTod at a small eettlemmt 
oalled Pokai, where they had the good fortune to find a 
oanoe. From this point Captain Hawea was sent back to 
T« Auroa village, with the double purpose of keeping open 
tiie traok in case of retreat, and searching for oanoea, while 
Captain Eells was sent forward with a email party in the 
captured canoe, on a similar errand. Both were succeeBfal ; 
Capbun Eells found two lat^ ones at pah Bakau, and Hawes 
another at Te Auroa. Major Noake was now in a position 
to ascend the river, and pushed forward to Te Iringi with 
mzty men. This was a largeeettlement, which it wasfully 
expected would be defended by the enemy ; but snch waa 
not the oaae, for it had been recently deserted, the oattle 
and poultry being left behind. The guide, when queationed, 
said be believed the men bad retired to Piraunui, a la^e 
settlement at no great distance. The column therefore 
advanced oaudouely, expecting a volley ever;- minute; bot 
on nearing the pah a white flag was «een waving irom tbe 
palisades, and onr men were welcomed by a decrepit old 
woman, who had evidently been left to receive them. 

Captain Bryce was sent forward next day and ascended 
the river ten miles farther, until he came upon three mrai 
in a canoe ; the men escaped, bnt tbe canoe fall into onr 
bands. 

By this time tbe column had penetrated sixty miles ap 
the river, and bad destroyed or carried off everything port- 
able; but the main object of tbe expedition failed, as the 
HaubaUB were evidently on their guard, and bad retired to 
the Upper Wanganui. Such being the oase> HCajor Noake 
retired to the Weraroa, where tbe luotwas sold, for the benefit 
of the men engaged. On the 20tli, Captain Hawes, one of 
the beet scouts in the service, started with ninety men, oom- 
posed of No. 9 Division Armed Constabolary (Ngatiporons) 
and some volunteers, to scout the ooontry inland of tba 



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WAE m NEW ZEALAND. 267 

Wbennaknra nver. No sign of recent ocoupatioD vas seen, 
and it did not appear tliat the Fnkakohi tribe were in- 
habiting that distriot. The Waitotara and Whenaaknia 
districts had now been searched unsncceBsfnlly, and there 
only remained the Patea; this was left lo Colonel Lyon, who 
on the 3rd of May crosi.ed the river at Hnkatereand oamped 
at Otanto, where fresh tracks were seen. A party rf 
Ngatiporon sconts nnder Te Hata were sent in paisuit, and 
oame across three men, two of whom were oangbt and shot. 

On the following day two others wearo Been, and met the 
same fate ; one of them proved to be a woman dressed in 
men's clothes. Another party of onrmen saw about forty 
Hanhaus, most of whom escaped by their canoes ; the others 
eoattered in every direotion, and onr force having no canoes 
returned to Patea. On the 9th of Jnne, Major Noake took 
the matter in hand with complete suocest ; be started from 
Patea with 270 men of all ranks, and proceeded np tdie 
river in canoes. On the fonrth day they arrived at a villt^ 
called Faetata, where they were met by an envoy from the 
leading chief of the Pakakohi (Ngawakataurua), who 
wished to sae for peace. Mr. Booth, native magistrate, went 
up the river to arrange terms, while Major Noake held the 
envoy as hostage for his safety. 

Mr. Booth was absent longer than waa expected, and 
Mitjor Noake, nneaxy as to his fate, took fifty men and 
started for Kurenui, where he found Tanrua and his people. 
The major was not learned in Maori diplomacy, and cnt 
the Gordian knot in a manner very pleasant to think 
of. He fiist gave Mr. Booth to nuderstand that, having 
arrived on the ground, he (Major Noake) was master of 
the occasion ; so after sending half his men to the rear of 
the pah, he informed Taurna that, before he treated with 
rebels, they must lay down their arms. The Hauhans, nn- 
nsed to snob deoieive measures, hesitated, but it was too late, 
the Pakehaa were all ronnd them, and evidently quite ready 
to commence. So Taurua made a virtue of necessity and 
fell gracefully, by laying his gun at the major's feet. His 



268 EF.MIN18CBNCE8 OP THE 

mea followed suit, and thirty giina irere quietly lud on the 
ground. Tbe tribe were then informed that they wonld 
be taken to Patea, until tbe Govemment had decided as to 
their treatment ; so the whole of that section of the tribe, 
forty-eix men, including the chiefs Tanrtta, Iraia, and 
Kiriona, thirty-seven women, and forty children, were taken 
prisoners and handed over to tbe safe keeping of Ngatiporon. 
Eighteen oanoes were taken as GoTemment loot, but their 
houses and cultivations were not detttroyed, as they had 
giren in peacefully. Thus far we had been most Bnccessful, 
but there were still abont seventy members of this tribe at 
large; and immediate sti^ps were taken to capture them, 
before they could join Titokowaru at Ngatimam. 

To accomplish this, Hori Eerei and a party of the 
Wanganui tribe started in pursnit, and returned on the 
21at with forty prisoners, of whom sixteen were well armed. 
The last expedition was on the 7th of July, when Captain 
Hawes succeeded in capturing eight men up the Whenn- 
akuia river, but unfortunately allowed tbe chief To 
Onekura to escape. This man had been the leader in the 
treacherous murder of Mr. C.Broughton; he was recaptured 
a few weeks later, and died in Otago, as did all those 
who took Hn active part in that murder. Kearly the whole 
of the Fakakohi tribe were now in the hands of the Govem- 
ment, to the number of 180. The men were transported to 
Ott^;o, and won gulden opinions fiom the authorities by 
their quiet behaviour ; it may therefore be concluded that 
imprisonment did them goud, as quiet behaviour had not 
been characteristic of that tribe for several hundred years. 

These operations ended a campaign which had com- 
menced with the murder of the three settlers a year before. 
X)uring that period, many engagements had been fought, 
in everyone of which our loss had been mnch heavier than 
that of the enemy's ; but, for all that, the Hauhans had 
been completely beaten, and driven out of their country. 

The following table will show the losses on both sideB 
during the campaign. 



WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 21 

OM n^trtd bg the CoJoni'til Fontt in Oui Camfiaign agaiiut 
Tilokoaam, 

Corpi. KIlloL WoDDdel 

No. 1 Diviakin Armed CoDBtabnluy . 1 7 

No, 2 „ „ „ . SO 17 

Nfi, S „ „ „ . 17 10 

No. 5 B „ „ .6 7 

No. 6 „ „ „ .4 8 

No. 7 „ „ „ .2 

No, 8 „ „ „ .3 3 

BoDuti 2 

WelUiiKtoii Bangen 4 9 

WelliuptoD Bifle* 5 f! 

TaianiCti Hilitu 2 7 

PfttMCaTaJr? 2 I 

PateftBifles 3 

Eup«pM 4 e 

8titllen 6 1 

TotAl ... SI 9i 

Total tuoertained Lorn of Eiumg. 
KiUed .... 45 
Ptuonen , . . IBSi 



CHAPTER XLIX. 
CAMPAiaN AGAINST THE DBIWEBA TBIBB. 



OoLOSSL Whitmore having driven Te Eooti from Poverty 
Bay, on the east ooast, and Titokowaru &om the Ngati- 
niuini coontry, on the west coast, now tamed his atten- 
tion to those traablesome people known as the TJriwera. 
Their offences had been greatand nnmerons ; and to crown 
all, they had taken an aotive if not a leading part in the 
Poverty Bay massacre. No tribe in Kew Zealand deserved 
pnniahment more than these people. Living in the midst 
of almost impenetrable and foreet-clad mountains, and 
seldom mixing with Europeans, against whom they ooold 
have no grievanoe, they were, nevertheless, one of the first 



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270 BEHIKISCENCES OF THE 

tribes io join the King party in the Waikato, and, with 
the Taupo and Upper Wanganni, they fought against 
General Cameron at Orakan and other plaoee, Waikato, 
for Bome reason, did not fight at Orakau, but oontonted 
themselTea by looking on at a safe distance. The Uriweia 
have not yet forgiven the desertion which cost them bo dear, 
and, if properly handled, would make valnable allies in 
any future war with Waikaio. Since that period, they had 
made themselves oonspionoua, by the mnrders of Pitoaim, 
Bennett White, and other Opotiki settlers ; but the day of 
redkonii^ was at hand, for the war was ahont to be carried 
into their own country. Colonel Whitmore's plan was 
ooroprehensive — perhaps too much so ; bnt he, knowing the 
diffiooliy of one oolnmn co-operating with another in the 
New Zealand bush, would not allow the campaign to depend 
upon happy ohaaces, but made each detachment in a 
measure independent of the other, Ko less than four 
oolumns were to march in this expedition, and each &om a 
different point ; three of them were, if possible, to rendee- 
vona at Buatahuna, or some other spot in the Uriwera 
country, and aunihilate all opposition. Colonel Whitmore 
was to start from Te Matata, with a mixed force of 
Europeans and Arawa, and march by way of Kokohinan 
across the Eaingaroa plain. He would then attack Te 
Harema pah, in the Ahikerera valley, and push on to 
Buatahuna to meet Colonel St. John, who, with another 
column, would march from Whakatane, uid follow the river- 
bed to the same place, attacking all the pahs and kaingas 
en route. The two parties having met, would then join and 
march over the Hniarau range to Waikaremoaaa, where it 
was expected Colonel Herriok would be found. Tbisoffioer 
would march Irom Te Wairoa, cross the lake (then almost 
unknown), and destroy all the pahs, after which there 
would be little to do, beyond hunting the str^iglers. The 
fourth column, consisting of the mounted division of the 
armed constabulary force, some sixty strong, were to march 
from Wanganni to Napier, and thence by Te Haroto to 



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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 271 

Tanpo, trhere it was intended they ebould aot as a pstrol, 
and out off all fugitives attempting to reach Waikato. In 
pnrstiance of these plans, a portion of the weet coast field 
foice, conusting of Kos. 4 and 6 Aimed Constabnlaiy and 
No. 8 (Arawa Armed Constabnl&ry), left the Waitata in the 
Sbirt and 8t. Kilda steamers on the 10th April, and 
arrived in Onehunga on the evening of the 11th. After 
landing the baggf^e. No. 9 Armed CouBtabnlary and the 
gaidea were marched ocron the isthmns to Auckland, 
with the intention of embarking at ouoe on board the 
Lord Athley, then lying at the vrharf ; but the temptati<m 
to remain one day in Auckland was too much for men 
who had been months in the bush. It was dark when the 
column reached Queen Street, and its strength gradually 
dwindled and became beautifully less as it reached the 
wharf, when it was found that only about half the men 
were present Noe. 4 and 8 Divisions behaved no better; 
they had landed early in the morning, and had been all 
dayintown, bat this did not Gatisly them, and many were 
absent when the steamer started. Colonel Whitmoie 
serionsly afironted the whole force, by telling a member of 
the Government, " This is what I have to put up with — 
mntinooe men and disoontented ofScers." Now, excepting 
always No. 8, the Arawa divifiion, who had been pampered 
until they were perfectly useleas, the men were not 
mutiDouB, but simply thought they deserved a holiday, 
even though it did delay the force for a day. The proof 
that t^e otBcers were not discontented, is that they aotnally 
put the camp equip^e and baggage on board the steamer 
themselves at midnight, it being impossible to get men 
in the hurry and confusion of embarkation. On the 13th 
the force (minus sixty men) reached Tanranga, and camped 
at Maunganui, to await the arrival of Colonel Whitmore, 
who had remained in Auckland to hunt up the stragglerg. 
Meanwhile the SUtrt and St. KUda returned to the 
Waitara, to bring up Nos. 1 and 2 Divisions, and on the 14th 
Colonel Whitmore arrived with the abeenteea. A steamer 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



272 BEHIKISCBIfCES OF THE 

had been chartered bo bring them down, and the unonnt 
WM deducted from their pay ; if I recollect aright, it 
amonnted to £5 per head. The Arawa division, finding 
< themselTee once more in their own country, and that their 
aervicea were urgently required in the forlhooming cam- 
paign, sawacbauceof giving some of tbe trouble for causing 
which tMa insolent tribe is notorioua ; so they promptly 
mutinied, and were disbanded, or, more strictly speaking, 
they disbanded themselves, and ill-natared men still say 
that we lost nothing, and the enemy gained as maoh by their 



OAHPAIQM AGAINST THE UBlWEfiA TBIBE— eon^nuetl. 

TE KOOn ATTACKS WHAKATAKE. TAKING OF AHIKERERD. 

DEATH OP UEUTENANT WHITE. DOINGS OF COLONEL ST. 

JOHK'S COLUMN. 
Oh the 19th, the force reached the Matata, after a most 
&tiguiog inarch over heavy sand, and one-half the men 
were crippled by the new boots they had purchased in 
Tanranga. Whether Te Eooti had foreseen this combined 
attack or not, it is impossible to say, but he certainly 
anticipated it, by striking one of those rapid blows for 
which he is BO famous. On the 18th of March, a koUri 
of 100 men, under the Taupo chief Wirifaana, and directed 
by Te Eooti, attacked the settlement of Whakatane. 
^e leader was one of the first men killed ; he was shot 
at the mill by an old Frenchman (Jean Garraad), who 
made a vigorous defence, killing two men before he was 
tomahawked. The large pah was next attacked, but the 
Hauhans were beaten off with heavy loss, and the enemy 
retired to the cover of a large whare, and commenced to 
sap. After two days* work they succeeded in reaching 
the palisades ; and Ngatipukeko (the oocupaitts of the 
pah), having expended their ammnnition, lost their two 



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WAB m NEW ZEALATn>. 273 

chie& Hon Tnnni and Heremaia Tantere, besides five men, 
three wameD, and two childreo, called a trace with Te 
Kooti, and agreed to Burreuder the pah that evening. Te 
Eooti, on hia part, was only too glad to terminate affaira 
in thin manner, for he had lost nearly twenty men. 

After oonclnding negotiations with the lat^ pah, the 
Hauhaoa oroEsed the river to attack a smaller fortification 
on the opposite banV, and sacked and burnt the stores of 
Uesent. Simpkin and Milburae. When Kgatipakeko saw 
Te Kooti safe across the river, they qnietly lelt their pah 
and escaped in the direction of Te Uatatu ; for some time 
their retreat was not noticed, bnt on being disoovered 
they were pursued so closely, that maoy would have been 
killed had not Major Mair appeared od the scene. That 
officer had received information of the attack, and was ad- 
vancing with a strong party of Enropeans and Arawa. 
Te Eoori, unwilling to try conclusions on the open ground, 
fell bock to a strong position among the hills, where he 
awaited our attack. He had then about 200 men of 
various tribes under his command, Uriwera, WhakaCohea, 
and Chatham Islanders, so superior as fighting men to the 
Arawa, that Major Mur decided not to attack until further 
reinforced. On the 13th, « skirmish between the enemy 
and a small reconnoitring party ensued; but as nsnal, 
where Maories alone are engaged, without loss. On the 
15th a forward movement was made, and it was then 
found that Te Kooti had retired inland, and carried off the 
people of the Faharakeke village, numbering about fifty, 
men, women, and children. That same evening, reinforce- 
ments of the Arawa arrived, and raised Hair's foroe to 
450. Next morning they started in pursuit, and found 
the trail leading in the direction of Tauaroa ; our advanced 
guard reached that place on the I8th, and found the enemy 
there in force. 

Ihtring the evening, a deserter from Te Eooti arrived 
in camp, and gave the information that there weie 100 
men in Tauaroa, besides the Faharakeke and Patuherehere 



.Coogic 



274 REHINffiCENCES OF THE 

people; and that enxty nioimt«d Hanhaos had gone to 
Motnmako, to take prisoners the Ngatimanawa tribe, who 
lived there. Major Uair sent a messenger at onoe to hiary 
np the main body, and aa the; arrived, assigned to each 
tribe a poeilion, to prevent the enemy's escape during the 
night. 

It wtM now getting dark, and the chief Pokia declined 
to take up his post ; in vain Major Mair urged that Te 
Kooti might escape. The chief admitted the probability, 
bat declined to move until daylight. Wi Marsh's people 
md the Ngatiwhakaane took up their position; Ngati- 
pukeko refused to go nearer than five hundred yards, and 
Ngatirangitihi, who knew the place well, not only refused 
to act as gnides, but disappeared altogether during the 
night. Under such circumstances it is not astonishing 
that Te Eooti again escaped. About 9 p.m. the mounted 
Haubaus retiimed from Motumako, and a skirmish ensued 
between them and Wi Marbh's people; during the coo- 
fusion which ensued, Te Eooti probably effected his escape, 
for about midnight it was discovered that the pah was 
empty. In the morning, the dead body of a Maori was 
found in the rifle-pita of the pah; he had been taken 
prisoner the day befure ; bis bauds were tied, and his head 
cut to pieces. Shortly after daybreak, Te Eooti's rear- 
guard might be seen ascending the high range leading to 
Ahikerem. But the Arawa refused to porsue, showing 
the same intense dread of the Uriwera that they afterwairds 
exhibited when with Colonel Whitmore. Peraniko, chief of 
Ngatimanawa, succeeded in escaping from the Hauhaus, and 
reported that it was Te Kooti's intention to make raids on 
the Bay of Plenty settlements ; and that in the event of 
the Driwera joining him, he would attack either WaJroa or 
Mohaka. Major Mair, after his experience of the Arawa, 
took the wise course of disbanding this braggart but 
useless tribe, and awaited the arrival of Colonel Whitmore 
and his Europeans, of whose advent he had reoeived iiotic:e. 
On the 21st of April, the Sturt and St. Kilda arrived with. 

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WAB m NEW ZEALAND. 275 

No«. 1 and 2 LKviaione of the armed constabiilaiy, to join 
Colonel St. John's ooliunn at Whakatane, and aa Uiese men 
had the hardest fighting during the (MUpaigD, their doingi 
shall take preoedence of the others. On the 22nd, No. I 
Division Armed Constabulary marched to Oporiaa, and 
Ko. 2 oooupied the mill at Whakatane, ready toreceive the 
fitorea expected by the return tripof the Sturt, which arrived 
on the lat of May, with proviBi<niB and ammunition. 

On the fbllowii^ day, the oolumn assembled at Oporiaa, 
and each man reoeived aiity rounds of extra ammunition, 
and five days' rations, for the maroh to that terra inoognita, 
Bnatahnna. On the 4th, the oolumn, consisting of the 
following companies, 



No. 1 DiririoD Armed Conitabnkiy 

No. 2 .. 

No. 4 „ 

No. 8 „ ,. „ 

Gnidei 

Native Coutliieeiit 



»7 



In aU , .125 men, 

commenced their march into the enemy's country. Two 
doctors accompanied the column, and the friendly natives 
carried some spare ammunition and two days' supply of 
very bad baoon. 

After a long and tedious march of twenty miles up the 
bed of the Whakatane, daring whiob the men crossed this 
strong stream twenty-eight timea, the force camped for 
the night at Tunanni. 

On the following day, the march was of the same de- 
scription, and the men camped at Waikere Whenua. Up 
to this time no sign of the enemy's presenoe was visible. 
On the 6th, the column started at 6 a.h., and abont noon 
had gained the top of a high hill, from which the Hanhau 
Tillage of Omaratangi could be seen. While the men 
vrers resting, and Colonel St. John was reoonnoitring the 
position, the report of a gun was heard in the village, and 

T a 



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276 BEMINISCENCES OF THE 

the oolumn supposed themselves discovered, but such was 
not the case ; Colonel St. John, however, gave orders for 
aa immediate advance and attack. So steep was the 
range on which the force stood, that they appeared quite 
dose to the village, bat the winding track took some time 
to descend. The gaides, led by Lieutenant White, and 
the handful of Ngapuhi, composlDg Ko. 8, under Captain 
Gundry, dashed into the village, completely surprising it. 
Six men, two women, and a child were killed in the 
confusion, and several women taken prisoners, our only 
casualty being Lieutenant White, who was slightly 
wounded. The real work now commenced in earnest, for 
the Uriwera, delighting in ambuscades, and enraged at 
their loss at Omaratangi, would be certain to retaliate in 
the difScult country lying between them and Boatahuna. 
The force camped for the night in the captured village, 
and resumed their march on the following morning, con- 
tinuing up the bed of the Whakatane. Lieutenant White 
and hid soouts led the way cautiously, knowing that they 
would be ambushed before long ; and while in the act of 
crossing the river, about two miles from camp, the volley 
came. White fell, mortally wounded, in the water, and a 
nonstable of No. 8 was severely wounded. The enemy 
were established in a strong position on the opposite bank, 
commanding the ford, which it was impossilile to cross 
until they were dislodged. To attain this object, Colonel 
St. John ordered No. 1 Division to advance up the river, 
cross at another ford, and, if possible, out off the am- 
buscade. No. 1 Were smart in their movements, but 
when they had arrived at the spot indioated, the enemy 
had decamped to a safe distance on the rangeabove. Here 
the brave Lieutenant White received a soldier's grave, 
and of him it may be safely said, that no better man ever 
/ought in New Zealand. Meanwhile, the Hanhans had 
taken np a position on the range over which the track 
led, and amused themselves by firing volleys at the burial 
parties, wounding two of the native contingent, omo 

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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 277 

mortally. The oolnmn moved forward to attack thii 
position, a very n&sty one, for the track led throtigh high 
fern and wonnd np the steep face of the bill. So rough 
was the gronud, that it woa hardly possible to show a 
front of more than two men, a formation very trying to 
the leading files. 

A party was therefore detached to turn the enemy'n left, 
and outflank the rifle-pit'^ on the ridge, which completely 
commanded the track. The whole face of the hill was 
covered with dense fern and ecmb, and towards the top 
there was bush, a&brding splendid cover to the defenders. 
After allowing »uffioient time for the flanking party to get 
into position, the main body received orders to advance, 
and dashing np the steep slope, entered the pits, wliich 
they found deserted; two or three stand of arms had been 
left behind by the enemy in their hurry. After a short 
halt, the column pushed forward to Te \Vhenuanui's pah, 
about three miles distant. It was a tumble-down sort of 
affair, erected on a spur near the bush, and, like all the 
tJriwera pahs, evidently not meant for defence, for they 
never dreamt that we shosld have the temerity to atteok 
them in their own mountain land. When within eight 
hundred yards, the enemy opened a harmless fire, and 
the colonel, having examined the place through his field- 
glass, ordered Colonel Fraser, with No. 1 Division and 
some Maorifs, to work round the left of the pah, 
while Nos. 2 and 8, under Sub-Inspector Scanncll, took 
the same movement on the right ; at the same time he 
gave iufitnictions that on reaching certain points, a general 
charge should be made by the two divisions. Eraser's 
course could be traced until he entered the bush ; but the 
right attack was lost sight of at once, their line of advance 
beii^ up one of the many mountain streama with which 
this r^on abounds. The centre, under St. John, were 
about to advance, when Fraser's men were seen to rush 
out of the bush, and make for a clearing about two 
htindred yards from and completely commaodii^ the pah. 

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278 BSaHNIBCENCEB OF THE 

This prematore moTement alarmed tbe enemy for their 
safety, tmd they hastily evaonated tbe place and fled to 
the bash, before the right attack could get into position. 
The foroe camped here for the night, fires were lighted, 
and the men had jxist made themselvee comfortable, when 
the sentries reported the enemy in foroe on the edge of 
the bnah ; the men tnmed oat in great excitement, and & 
few shots had been fired, when the intrusive enemy was 
discorered to be a Bub-diTiBion of No. 2, who, in some nn- 
aoooantable manner, had lost their way during the attack. 
Early on the morning of the 8th, some of the enemy wore 
obserred on the edge of the forest, and one of them was 
shot by a friendly native ; he proved to be the husband of 
a woman captured at Omaratangi. After breakbst the 
reserve bacon was served out, and the column marched far 
Kuatahuna. 



CHAPTER LI. 
CAHPAIQN AQAIKST TEE URIWEIU TBISE— COfl^tflUad. 



Abodt noon the force arrived in front of Tatahoata. This 
fortification was built on an open plateau, with the main 
bush on its right front, the Whakatane river six hundred 
yards distant on its left, and a deep creek, with high scmb 
on its banks, in rear ; the pah was garrisoned by aboat 
sixty men, and forty more were posted in a small hush 
commanding their right flank. Colonel Fraser and his 
division, supported by the Ngaitai tribe, were ordered to 
skirmish between the pah and the main bush, which was 
held by the enemy ; the left subdivision of No. 1, supported 
by No. 4, were to engage these men, while the remainder 
pushed round to the rear of the pah; No. 2 Armed 
Constabulary and the Whakatohea tribe were to skirmisli 



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WAE m NEW ZEALAND. 279 

ftorow the open ground Id front of the palisades, and get 
as near aa possible ; the third party, cooBiBting of No. 8 
Armed Constabulary and the Ngatipnkeko iribe, wete 
ordered to work roand the left of the pah, through the 
scrub above the Whakatane river, and, if possible, to com* 
municate with Colonel Fraeer in rear. This disposition, 
had it Bucoeeded, would have oat off the enemy's retreat, 
and rendered their destmctien oertain; the weak point 
waa, that it pre-supposed the Uriwera remaining in their 
pah UBtil the arrangemaits were complete, whereas the 
wily savages did tuyt do so. While the several divisions 
were taking up their appointed positions rapidly and in 
good order, some one ordered the retire to be sounded ; the 
men retired, and the HaubauB, taking advantage of the 
oircumstanoe, opened a heavy fire at close quarters, 
killing and wounding several men. Colonel St. John 
disoovered the blunder in time, and ordered No. 8 to 
continue their flank march, and the enemy finding that 
they were likely to be cat off, abandoned the pah. Mean- 
while Captain 'fravers had not been idle with his detach- 
ment on the right ; he had cleared the Haalians oat of the 
bnsh, but at the sacrifice of his own life, for he held the 
mistaken idea that an officer should never take oover. 

During the skinuish he was continually asked to do so 
by his men, bat refused, and his last words were, " Ton 
oannot say I have not dona my duty, boys." Only one 
dead Hauhaa was found after the flgbt, and it is probable 
that their loss was small, as they had the advantage of 
good cover, while most of our men had to advance across 
tolerably open ground ; our loss was not large oonsidering 
the work done, being only four killed and six wounded. 
That evening, the right oolamn under Colonel Whitmore 
arrived in sight of Tatahoata ; the colonel, attended by a 
few guides, arrived in oamp that night, but left his men 
camped two miles away. Considering the difflcoltiee of the 
country, and that it had never before been traversed by 
aax forces, and was therefore unknown, it speaks highly 

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280 EEMINISCENCES OF THE 

fur Colonel Wtiitmore's diapositions that the two colnmns 
should reach their destination (Baatahnna) OD the esme 
day. At the etiiue time, in Mi*ori warfare nothing is gained 
by accurate marching, fur either column was sufficiently 
strong itself to have borne down all oppoeitioQ ; and Maori 
warfare ia generally in too Parthian a style to admit of 
snooeesrol attacks in rear, while engaged in &ont by a 
portion of the same force. Retreat is too easy in a rough 
country to bo liglitly armed and active an enemy. 

The right column under Major Roberts was composed 
of a mixed force of armed oonstabalary and Arawas, 
the latter nndcr their own chie&. Colonel Whitmore 
accompanied this party, aa he feared complications might 
arise among the various tribes bearing the name of Arawa, 
each of whom was jealous of the others, while all were in a 
state of funk at the prospect of penetrating the fitstneaaea 
of the Uriweia, Such being the case, Mr. Clark, Civil 
Commissioner, whose influence was paiamonnt with these 
tribes, accompanied the colonel. The oolnmn marched from 
To Matata, by way of Eokohiaau and the fiangitaike 
river, on the 4th of May, 1869 ; about noon on the 6tb, 
they arrived in thu 'Whaiiti valley, and advanced to attack 
Te Harema pah, unseen by the enemy, who expected the 
force by another route. Kgatipikiao, under the chief 
Fokia, led the way, and for a wonder behaved well — rather 
too much so, for without giving the main body time to get 
into position, they charged into the pah, killed five men, 
and took the women and children (sixty in number) 
prisoners. Many escaped in consequence of the rashness 
of Ngatipikiao, but the main body of the Hauhau fighting 
men were guarding the Tapiri track, by which route they 
supposed the Pakebas would come. They were led to this 
belief by the fact that Heruiwi was occupied by Captain 
Moorsom and his Bay of Plenty Cavalry. 

The Arawas, satisfied with their performanoe, declined 
to go farther that day, so Colonel Whitmore gave in, and 
camped the force in the valley. On the 7th they again 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 281 

lefofied tomarcb; and the colonel, fieeing that his plans 
were likely to be fmatrated, ordered Major Roberta with 
No. 6 Armed Conatabnlary, and the guides aa advanced 
guard, to oontinne the maroh. The chief Fokia, who 
eridently wished to eatabliah a cbaracter, proceeded with 
the column, and, thanks to the inflaeuoe and exertions of 
Ur. Clark, the whole tribe followed. The track, as is 
usual in this abominable oonntry, led. up the bed of a 
creek, which had to be crossed and recrossed nearly fifty 
times. The guides under Captain Swindley led the way 
oautioualy ; for theirs was a work of danger, it being more 
than possible that they would fall Tiotims to an ambuscade. 
After aome hoars' marching, the enemy, who had chosen 
their position well, opened fire, killing one and wounding 
two of the guides. The main body oame up quickly to 
their aseistance, and after a smart skirmish the enemy 
retired. Hemi, the man who was killed, was a Waikato 
natiTe, and a man of proved courage; be had been for 
years guide to the imperial troops in Taranaki, and was 
mainly infitmmental in saving the lives of Lieutenant Cox 
and a party of the 57th Begiment after the disastrons 
affiiir of Ahuahu. The column baited for the n^;ht close 
to the battle-ground. During the darkness, tiie Arawa 
began to compare notes as to their ultimate chance of 
success ; the majority declared they would go no further in 
such a wild, unhallowed country, where the Hanhau kicks 
were so much more plentiful tha.n Government half-penoe. 

In the nick of time Fokia came to the front, combated 
their arguments and calmed their fears, by ofiering to take 
tiie lead with his tribe of Ngatipikiao, provided Colonel 
Whitmore would allow him to fire into suspicions places 
as he advanced. This was a truly gallant offer, for in the 
bush the Arawas were as the neweat of new chums. The 
colonel willingly ^reed to Fokia's proposition, as there 
was nothing to be gained now by a silent advance, con- 
vincing proof that the enemy were in &ont of them on 
the track having been received. 

On the following day, the wounded men were sent back 



284 REMINISCENCES OF THE 

men) decided to return to Ahikerem on the following day. 
Under these ciroumstanoes, Colonel Whitmoremade nphis 
mind to pmceed with the Enropeanw and Pokia's men, if 
the retiring natives would carry out the wonnded. ThiB 
they promiaed to do ; but twelve houra altered the conrse of 
events, and next morning it was found that Pokia'smenhad 
also decided to return. It was perhaps aa well that they 
did 80, for the seaGon was too much advanced to render it 
safe to cross the snow-covered Uuiaran range ; bo, after de- 
Btroying one more large kainga, the force returned to Ahi- 
kerem and took up a line of ptiets on the Rangitaike river, 
&omTeTeko toFortGalatea. Here it was intended ihe men 
should pass the winter, and occupy Taupo in the following 
spring. The main body of the Arawas under Major Alair, 
carrying the wounded, had retired by way of the Horomfto 
gorge, a different track to that by which they came. They 
stATted on their return march shortly after Colonel 
Whitmore's column had left. Hardly bad they asoended 
the range, when they saw the enemy, who had evidently 
been watching every movement on our part, enter their 
deserted camp. 

For some hours the retreat went on quietly, hut about 
midday the enemy overtook the rearguard of the Arawas, 
Rnd a few shuts sent this valiant tiibe rushing down the 
track in a state of ponio-stricken terror, leaving the 
Ngaitai and Ngatipukeko tribes to hold the enemy in 
check and carry the wounded. Had it not been for the 
personal courage of Major Mair and Dr. Leslie, with this 
small but faithful band of men, who declared they would 
never leave their leader and his friend, the wounded must 
have fallen into the enemy's hands. As it was, the enemy 
followed all one day and part of the night, but were afraid 
to venture on too close quarters with men who paid so 
little attention to their firing and yelling. On arrival at 
Fort Galatea, it was foand that plenty of rations had been 
stored there, and if any of my readers have lived on 
horseflesh and potatoes for any length of time, and in very 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 285 

small qnantitics, thuy may piolnre to themaelTes the gas- 
tronomic feate that e& tiled. 

Te Eooti, after his attack on Whakatane and retreat 
from Tatiaroa, mentioned in tke preceding chapter, retired 
to Bnatahnna, where he called a meeting of the Uriwera, 
and pi'opoeed to attack either Mohaka or Te Wairoa. The 
Uriwera chiefs consented to join him, provided he wotdd 
make a mid upon Mohaka, which was the more nnproteoted 
plaoe of the two. 

One hundred men were Belected from the mixed tribei 
who followed Te Kooti, and with this force he marched 
orer the Huiarati range, and arrived at the south-west arm 
of the Waikare Moana lake. Te Kooti here issued au 
order that he would cross over in the first canoe, and that 
his men would then follow. A section of the Uriwera 
paid no attention to this order, but pushed out into the 
lake in a small canoe, which, when about half-way across, 
was captiized by one of those squalls which frequently occur 
on this luke. The crew reached ehoio with great diffi- 
culty, leaving their arms and ammunition at the bottom. 
So exhausted were the)', that one died from iatigue. 
Te Kooti, with his usual promptitude, took advotitage of 
this circumstance, and a>-sembliug bis men, warned them of 
the extreme danger they mcuned by disobeying his orders, 
and concluded by informing tbem, that the reason he had 
ordered them to wait until he crossed wus, that God had 
warned him of the coming miufortune, and thut it could 
only be avoided by Te Kooti himself crossing in the first 
canoe. The superatitiuus Maories were much imprea»ed 
by this statement, and did not again disobey. 

From hence the Kokiri marched by way of Te Putere to 
the Upper Mohaka, and arrived at the Arakanihi village 
befoie daylight. The native inhabitants, thoroughly sur- 
prised, were taken prisoners and butchered without much 
noise, the tomahawk being the weapon used. 

A party of the Uriwera were then bent across the river 
to atta<^ the houaes of the Enropeans. Messrs. Lavin and 



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286 BEUnnSOENCES OF THE 

Cooper weiro met on tbe road, and the latter was shot, bnt 
the former, who waa not hit by the first voUe;, attempted 
to escape with his wife. The; were, however, overtaken 
and shot. For some reason, the Hanhaus did not molest 
the bodies. When fonnd by the Earopean force. His. 
Lavln had a large sum of money in her pocket, and Mr. 
Lavin had his revolver. Three little children (Lavin's), 
while playing on the river-bank, were tomahawked, as also 
Mr. Wilkinson, making in all seven Enropeans killed, 
a Later on the same day the Hauhans marched down the 
river and attacked the Euke pah, which had a garrison of 
six men, and several women and children. 

The greater part of the fighting men were on an ex- 
pedition against Te Waru's village at Te Kiwi, and little 
thought that Te Kooti was turning the tables npon them 
in BO tmcnlent a fashion. 



OHAPTEE LHI. 
CABIPAIQS AQAraST THE UKIWEBA TRISB— continued. 

TE Koon. 

Tbb Huke pah was bnilt close to tfae edge of a steep cliff, 
with moderately open ground on its front and flanks ; but 
Te Kooti got his men into a hollow in the ground, about 
fif^ yards from the pah, and summoned the garrison to 
surrender. The defenders, though few in number, were 
nnder the influence of a courageous man, named Heta; 
and the; refused. The Hauhaus opened fire and com- 
menced their rifle-pits. 

All that day the place was resolutely defended, and on 
the following morning (Sunday, 11th of April) Te Kooti, 
finding he was losing time by fighting, and that the rocky 
nature of the ground prevented sapping, had reoonrse to 



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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 287 

Btrat^em. He again summoned the pah to surrender, 
assuring the people that he would not harm them ; but 
in the event of refusal, he threatened to storm the 
place and bill every man. Heta, game to the last, and dis- 
trueting Te Kooti, urged his comrades to hold ont and 
fight on, but the chief Rutene went out to meet the enemy, 
Te Kooti had now introduced the thin end of the wedge, 
and forthwith proceeded to drive it home, by persuading 
Ratene to go to the next pah (Himharama) and fetch 
Ropihana, the son of the head chief (Faora Rerepu). Te 
Eooti rightly concluded that if he bad this chief in bis 
power, he could place him in front, and march up to each 
pah with impunity, for none of the Mohaka tribe would 
dare to endanger the safety of their chief by firing. 

Bntene started on bis treacherous errand, and used all 
his eloquence to assure Ropihana that Te Kooti intended 
them no harm. He concluded by remarking that the 
enemy had plenty of rum, taken from the publlo-houses. 
This last ai^ument was too much for the young chief, and 
he oonaented to go ; his wife and people would have de- 
tained him by foroe, but he broke from them, jumped the 
parapet, climbed the palisades, and joined his enemies. 

Te Eooti now felt safe, and putting Bopibana in front 
of his men, he marched up to the Hnke pah and demanded 
admittance. Heta was called upon to open the gate, but 
refused, saying to his men, " Now you see what Rutene 
has done; if Ropihana were not there, I could shoot Te 
Eooti dead." Heta's refusal did not avail the garrison, 
for Rutene and one of the Uauhaus, a man of great 
strength, opened the gate hy lifting it off its hinges, and 
the whole party entered. At first they began to tant^ 
over one another, as if they had been friends long parted ; 
but after this had gone on for sOme time, Te Eooti stopped 
it by saying to the women of the pah, " Cook food 
for us." 

One old woman, bolder than the rest, replied, *' We 
cannot, yon have taken it all from us." 



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'' " Yea." said Te Kooti. " my hutd is strung." He then 
tamed to his people, and aaid, " I prophesy that tbei e 
will be a force seat from Te Wairoa to help theae people, 
and it will arrive abuut noon ; we must be prepared to 
meet them, therefore I order you to disarm these people." 

The women and children, thinking rightly tjiat they 
were about to be killed, bo^an to ory, atid some of them 
ran away ; but Te Kuoti oommanded them to remain, 
declaring it was not hia intention to hurt any one, bnt 
that he required the arms. Heta had been a silent 
spectator up to this time, but he now said to some of the 
women near him, " Get out of this pah, and escape towards 
Napier; 1 shall never leave it." The women took bis 
advice, and they, with a few children, were the only 
persons Mived. 

Most of the men surrendered their arms quietly, bnt 
Heta and another refused, the former saying, " We know 
that we are being disarmed that we may be more easily 
killed ; but if I have to die, so also most you." So saying, 
be raised his rifle and fired at Te Eocti, but, unfortonately, 
a Hauhau standing near struck up the muszle, and Te 
Euoti ^ain escaped. Heta was t>hot at once, and a 
general mabsaore ensued. Batene, the cause of all the 
mischief, ran lo Te Eooli for protection, but it did not 
save him. Another Hauhau seized Hopihana and tried to 
shoot him, but he wrenched himself free, and escaped to 
the big pah, although he fell wounded three times on the 
way, bt^ing hit by as many suocesitive shots. AH the 
women and children that oould be found were soon de- 
spatched, and then Te Kooti turned hia attention to the 
big pah, which he invested, after having taken the pre- 
caution to dig rifie-pits commanding the track by whJoh 
relief must pata from the Wairoa. Four kegs of amma- 
nition and several rifles were taken in the Huke pah, and 
t,his supply WHS of great service to the enemy in their 
attack on Hinihartuua. On the same day that Te Eood 
attacked llohaka, a Maori from that place reached T« 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 289 

Wsiroa with intelligenoe of the raid. Captain Spiller, of 
the armed constabulary, who was in command, seema to 
have been under the impreasion that the attack was a 
mere rose to draw him and his men from Te Wairoa, thus 
leaving the more important place open to attack. Te 
Eooti's friend and ally, Te Woru, was supposed to be in 
the neighbourhood of Waikare Moana, awaiting a chance 
of this sort to do mischief. Under this supposition, no 
steps were taken to suoconr the besieged, beyond sending 
Trooper Geot^ Hill of the armed oonsiabnlary force to 
reconnoitre the- pah, and ascertain the truth of the Maori's 
statement. Both at Napier and Te Wairoa prudence was 
carried throughout this affair almost to the verge of 
timidity. There were at the latter plaoe twenty-five men 
of the armed constabulary force, and as many settlers, ready 
and willing to fight ; there were, also, nearly two hundred 
Maories quite ready to be led by the EuropeaoB, A moiety 
of these men could have raised the siege, and saved the 
Hnke pah ; and there need have been no apprehension for 
the safety of To Wairoa, for eight hours would have 
brought Ihaka Whanga's tmsty tribe to take charge of 
the place in their abisence. Bnt nothing was done, and 
Trooper Hill proceeded on his journey of nineteen miles 

When about half-way, he met Messrs. Burton and 
Lamploiigh, two settlers, who offered to accompany him ; 
on arrival at the top of ihe ridge above Hohaka, the party 
could see the flags flying in the Huke pah, and puffs of 
smoke from the enemy's rifle-pits. So far, all was well ; 
the Hauhaus' presence was proved, and it was also seen 
that the pah held out. Hill rode back with the news at 
such a pace, that just before he reached the Waihua 
stream his horse knocked up. Luckily, be was soon after 
joined by three men, who bad been sent in search of him ; 
(Hie of these he sent back with the news, while he returned 
with the others to the ridge to watch the Hauhaa move- 
ments. The three troopers naturally conolnded that & 



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290 BEMINIBGENCES OF THE 

force wonld be sent at oaoe to aanBt the belet^ered 
friendlies; they tJierefore leturned to the ridge, that they 
might he in a position io give information on the arrival 
of the force. 

On their way they again met Burton and Lamplongh, 
who returned with them ; the horeee were tied up at the 
bottom of the hill, and the small party aeoended to the 
ridge, where they reuiaioed watching eveota for about 
two hoora, until quite dark. They then returned to their 
horses, and found that one of them had broken loose ; as 
it was necessary to find it. Hill and Trooper Tew started 
to search, each taking different tracks. The others, 
instead of awaiting their return, rode over the Sat, and in 
their rambles came across Tew, whom they very foolishly 
challenged in Maori. His answer was short, for he 
immediately fired and shot Lamplough's horse dead. 
Burton, concluding from this that Tew was a veritable 
Hauhau, fired in return, and so startled his own horse, 
that he shied and threw his rider. The third man 
(Mitchell), hearing the firing and the galloping of the 
riderless horse, felt certain that the Hauhans were on 
them, and shouting to Bill to run for his life, galloped oft 
as hard as he could, until he came to grief over a flax- 
bush, and was also left horseless. 

£iaoh man being «nder the impression that he was 
sarronnded by the enemy, took cover, hardly daring to 
breathe. Hill, hearing Mitchell move among the ranpo, 
slid over a steep bank into a swamp, where he stood all 
night with his carbine ready, and up to his knees in mud 
and water. In the morning this ladicrons series of 
mistakes was discovered, and a oooey brought all the 
stra^lers out of their hiding-plaoes. 



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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 



CHAPTER LIV. 
CAMPAIGN AOAIHBT THE DfilWEBA TRIBE — eontinued. 



Shortly before noon, a party of 100 Uaoriea, under the 
old chief Ihaka Whanga, arrived on the ridge. Twent;- 
five of them were Mofaaka men, who had been aheent on an 
expedition against Te Wam'e villi^ (Te Kiwi), where they 
had killed nine men. Thay were burning to avenge the 
deaths of their women and children, and were, consequently 
to be depended on ; but the same conld not be said of the 
remainder (half Hanhaaa), who did not intend to fight if 
they could help it. The five Europeans were eagerly 
questioned about the pahs, and stated that, so far as they 
knew, neither had surrendered. The war party, satisfied 
at this, pu&bed forward rapidly, but found on reaching the 
ridge that the Huke had iallen, but that Himharama 
still held oat. 

The garrison, seeing our people on the ridge, called out 
to them to charge at once, or the pah would be taken, as 
there were only ten men inside, and they could not stop 
a rush if one were made. To charge for the pah wonld 
necessitate our men running the gauntlet of a long line of 
rifle-pits; but this did not daunt the Mohaka men, and 
the diief Kupa called for volunteers to assist him. Trooper 
Hill immediately volunteered, and taking off most of his 
clothing to go light, charged down the hill with his small 
party. At the first rifle-pit the Hauhaus stood up and 
delivered their fire, but the Mohaka men, intent only on 
getting into the pah, passed on; Hill returned the fire and 
i^ot one of the enemy. The pah was gained with the 
■mall loss of two wounded, to the great disgust of Te Kooti, 
a 3 



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292 BEUINISCENCES OF THE 

who had now loat all chance of taking it. The main hody 
of our Haoriee under Ihaka Whanga remained on the ridge, 
and opened fire on the enemy's rifle-pits ; bat they did not 
stay there long, for Te Eootl detached a party of the 
I'riwera to take them in rear. This was too much for 
their philosophy, and they bolted, leaving their old chief, 
who disdained to fly. Only two men of his own tribe 
were with him, and they defended their position tintil it 
liocame desperate, when Ihaka ordei'ed them to separate 
tind hide in the scrub, as the only means of saving their 
lives. The two men were found and shot, bot the old 
cliief, although his pursuers were close upon him on 
Hcvcral occasions, escaped and returned to Te Wairoa next 
day. En route he met a party coming to look for him, 
tittle expecting to find him alive. When the Uohaka 
nicu entered the pah, they found little boys and girla 
aimed with any weapons they could get, standing on 
boxes, or mottnda of earth, to enable them to fire over the 
parapet. Hill took post in one of the angles, where the 
enemy could be distinctly heard sapping towards the 
palisadea, though the hard limestone soil made this a 
work of great toil. The palisades were old and rotten, 
and the garrison feared lest they should be pulled down in 
the Maori fashion, viz., by the enemy throwing a rope 
and cross-bar over them, and then dra^ng them down by 
their united strength. To remedy this weakness, Bill 
l>ropo8ed to use some bullock chains, then in the pah. 
The Maories, glad of the suggestion, passed them along 
outside the slakes, and fast«ned each end to the large 
comer posts, thus rendering the pah secure against 
anything the enemy could do with a ropo. Hill had 
secured a double-barrelled gun and a long spear to 
supplement his rifle, and with these weapons took post in 
the threatened angle, where he was supported by two 
able-bodied men, two little boys, and tbi^e girls ; besides 
this, he had the moral support of the Maori parson, who 
came round every huur and prayed Ibr bis auocesa. 

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WAB IS NEW ZEALAND. 293 

ProviBiODs were very ehort, but as ft great fftvoor, Hill, 
wlio bad eaten nothing sinoe breakfast tbe preTiona day, 
received a panikin of tea, one apple and a biscuit. 

A steady fire was kept up throughout the night, to 
prevetit the enemy rushing the pah, or tryiog the effect of 
the rope. Shortly before dajlight the Hauhau bugles 
sounded, and when it became light enough, four Saga were 
seeu in front of the pah, and almost immediately the 
enemy began to fire volleys from these diSerent points 
with great T^ularity and precision. This was kept up 
for some time, while the defenders of the pah were standing . 
ready without firing a shot, thinking it but a prelude to 
something worse. 

The garrison to a man mustered on the threatened side, 
for the pah was so large that only one fooe and two angles 
could be defended at a time. Anxious glances were now 
diieated by the defenders towards the Kapier track, in 
the Tain hope tliat reinfbroements might appear advancing 
to their relief ; they were indeed on the way, hot at such a 
funereal pace as to be wotse than useless, for they were 
ridioolouB. 

Suddenly the fire ceased, and a dead silenoe ensued, 
which lasted for nearly half an hour, until the besieged 
could stand it no longer, and one of them named Faki 
crawled out to the edge of the clifi^ where he relieved his 
pent-up feelings by a war-wboop that startled both 
parties, for the great Te Eooti with 200 men was retreating 
&om a pah defended by less than forty men. In a moment 
tbe whole garrison, men, women and children, were 
dancing a furious war-danoe on the edge of the clifT, in 
fall view of the retreating Hanbaus, who fired a parting 
volley at them, from a safe distance. So soon as Te 
Eooti was out of sight, Trooper Hill, who had acted 
with great ooorage and judgment throughout the afiair, 
for wMch he afterwards received the New Zealand Cross, 
asked the Maories if one of them would volunteer to go 
with him to Napier, to haat«Q up reinforcements, for he 



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291 BEUmiSCENCES OF THE 

preenmed that Te Kooti would be parBued. The Hohaka 
MaorieB refused to go, assigniiig ae their reason that the 
Hanhaii retreat waa only a Btratagem to draw some of 
them into an ambaeh, and that they had parties tying in 
ambtiah on the sereral traokB. Holding these opinions, 
they tried hard to stop Hill from going; bnt he, catching 
one of Te Eooti's knookod-tip horses, manned to make it 
carry him twelve miles along the beach to Waikare. When 
in sight of Finlayson's house at that place, he saw several 
men and horses at a distance; bat as they appeared to be 
Europeans, he went towards them, and caused considerable 
commotion, as they took him for Te Eooti's advanced 
guard, and were undecided whether to fire or retire. Hill 
seeing this, soon convinced them of his identity, and gave 
Captain Towgood, who was in command of this advanced 
guard of thirty men, the information that Te Eooti had 
retreated. Amongst this party was a Mohaka settler, 
whose wife and little ones were hiding somewhere in the 
hills ; the husband asked for volunteers to help him search 
for them. Hill and two others offered to go, and after 
tracking them for some hours through the fern, fonnd 
them; they had been wanderir^ about since Saturday 
morning, it was now Monday evening, and had been joined 
by a Uaori woman and child, who had escaped &om the 
Huke pah. When Captain Towgood received intelligence 
of Te Eooti's retreat, he sent a letter on to Colonel Lambert 
(who was in command at Fatane), to hurry up the various 
forces. 

The news of the attack upon lUohaka had reached 
Kapier on the evening of the lOth, about twelve hours 
after the attaok commenced at Te Huke, and during the 
night a whale-boat with five settlers arrived from the 
same plaoe and confirmed the news. On the following 
morning. Captain Towgood, whose ener^ was oonspionous 
throughout the affair, started with thirty volunteer 
horsemen, as an advanced guard, for Captain Tanner's 
troop of Mounted Bifles, about sixty strong. With theiie 

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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 295 

two parties combiDed, Te Eooti should have boen cut to 
pieces, for his men were Deoil; all drunk on the second 
and third day of the siege. Captain Tanner's troop 
left Napier aboQt noon ou the 11th, and considering 
the nrgeuuy of the occasion, and that Mohaka is not mure 
than fifty miles from Napier, it was only reasonable to 
suppose that they would have overtaken Towgood's party, 
who camped that night at Waikare. Had they done bo, the 
combined force would have been in time to cut up the 
enemy's rear-guard, and liave made them disgorge their 
plunder. But it waa not to be, for Captain Tanner did not 
reach Muhaka unlil the muming of the 14th, and did 
not even then follow the enemy, nor did Colonel Lambert, 
who arrived shortly after, with the mounted division of 
the armed constabulary, the pick of the force. When the 
Mohaka tribes saw that it was not intended to follow 
the enemy, they expressed their indignation quietly, but 
forcibly. " When," said they, " Nikora and Bangihiroa 
intended to attack Napier, we were with you in twelve 
hours, but you have taken three days, and now do 
nothing." 

Such inded was the case with 160 men, and Te Eooti's 
flag flying only a few miles inland. No pursuit was 
commenced, but in place a reconnoitring party was sent out 
to huiy the dead, and this done, tlie force returned ; by 
no means contented, for the men were humbled, and felt 
that they cut a sorry figure before tbe brave Mohaka 
natives. Some native women who were taken prisoners 
by Te Eooti, and afterwards escaped, informed the force 
that the Hauhaus camped for two days only a short 
distance up the valley, and that they might easily have 
been destroyed, as most of them were very drunk. Ite 
statement that " they might easily have been destroyed " 
may be taken with a grain of salt, but there is still the 
fact that the Hauhaus awaited the attempt. So ended the 
Mohaka raid, and the disgraceful mismanagement attendant 
thereon; for this is the only charitable way by which 

I ,z,;i.,C00gIC 



299 BEMINIBCENCia OP THE 

the affair can be explained. Onr loee was aervea Enropeans 
and fifty-seven Eriendly Maories killed, whereas tlid 
Hauhaus lost onlf twelve men, and were allowed to retire 

unmoleeted. 



CHAPTER LV. 
CAMPAIGN AQArasr THE URIWEBA TRIBE — eOtltinaed. 



The titird coliunn to operate against the Uriwera was 
placed under command of Colonel Heiriok, with orders to 
march either to Maungapohata or Waikare Uoana. To 
RBsiBt the colonel in raising hie motley force, the Hon. 
J. C. Eichmond (native minister) left the Bay of Plenty 
about the middle of April, taking with him Captain 
Gudgeon, to command the native levies who wonid form 
the niajoiity of this column. On the way down the coast 
the Si. Kilda called at Hicks Bay, and a letter was written 
to Rapata and his tribe of Ngatiporou, asking them to 
mnster 150 men and await the return of the steamer to 
convey them to Te Wairoa. The armed constabulary at 
Poverty Buy {twenty-five men) were ordered to march for 
the same place, Henare Potae and his loyal tribe relieving 
them. Mr. Bichmond then went on to Napier, and finding 
tliat the monnted division had been diverted from their 
original destination (Taupo) by the Mohaka raid, placed 
them also under Colonel Herrick, as infantry for the time 
being, their horses being left at Te Wairoa. Thus in a 
very short time 200 Europeans were collected ; many of 
them were not of the beet quality, as they had been dnfted 
ont of Colonel Whitmore'aveteran divisions, and left behind 
as garrisons, still there were good men among them. Tfaeee 
remarks do not, however, apply to the mounted men, who 
were some of the best in the force. - Bapata, for some 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 297 

reason of bis own, did not enter into this expedition with 
his usnal spirit, and would probably not have left his 
district, had not the GoTenment availed tbemselves of the 
services of Mr. £. Hamlin, who, as an old aoqnaintance, 
had safBoient iuflueaoe to indnoe Bapata to bring 170 men 
to Te Wairoa. Here Colonel Herriok'a troables began. 
The Eoropeane were ready to start, but the Maoriea hung 
hack, and Bapata offered to garrison Te Wairoa, but wunld 
not commence a campaign bo late in the season amidst 
the rain and snow likely to be experienced at the high 
altitudes of Manngapohatu and Waikare Moana. The 
Wairoa tribes, most useless men at their best, promptly 
endorsed Bapata's opinion, and it looked as if the expedition 
would he a failure. But Colonel Herriok'e patience was 
ezhansted, and ignoring the iiatives, he ordered the 
Europeans to march for Tuknrongi, a high peak, about 
twenty miles distant, over which the track to the lake led. 
From this point they were to commence a eledge-traok 
both ways, to enable stores to be brought up, as also boats 
to cross the lake. 

The march of the Europeans had some effect on Ngati- 
poron, for about ten days after camp was pitched at Tuku- 
rangi, tfaey appeared crawling up the hill, having taken 
three days to march twenty miles. Herrick, determining 
to strike while the iron was hot, ordered the whole force, 
now 400 strong, to march for the lake on the following 
morning, and about mid-day they reached the small bay 
of Onepoto, after a march of thirteen miles. Oamp was 
pitched in a narrow gorge, between two hills; a most 
dangerous position hod the enemy been enterprising or 
Dumeroos, but it was the best available. No sign of 
Maories was found here, but far np the Hereheretau inlet, 
smoke oonld be seen rising from the two pahs Tike- 
tike and Whokoari ; the problem was, how to get at them. 
The shores of the lake were rooky and precipitous to a 
degree, and as the lake resembles nothing so much as a 
gigantic cuttle-fish, its long arms stretching &r into the 



298 BEHENIBCENCBS OF THE 

hiUfl in fiTtiry direction, it would liave been a work of 
weeks to march ronnd. Two bdibII boats were now being 
brought to the lake on aledgee, but they would carry too 
few men to be of real Berrioe ; there were also some 
raoarkable pontoons built of aheet iron, shaped like a 
oigar, which were sent from Napier ; but tbe force to a 
man declined to embark on board them, preferring death 
on the field to drowning. 

The talented inyentor of these pontoons evidently 
thought the lake a sort of mill-pond ; while, on the contrary, 
it is a most dangerous sheet of water, subject to squalls 
that would have torn these tubular cigars to pieces in a 
moment. Under tbese oiroamstanoes, Colonel Horriok 
determined to build two large boats, each of which should 
carry seventy men ; they were to be built by a uondeacript 
body of men, of the Horse Marine type, who accompanied 
the force, and bore the imposing title of the Naval Brigade. 
The boats were to be completed in three weeks. Sawing 
commenced vigorously, and the planks were soon ready, 
but the numerous other articles required for construction 
were not there, and had to be forwarded from Kapler ; 
consequently the boats took six weeks to complete. When 
finished, they were, however, good specimens of naval 
architecture. Meanwhile reinforcements arrived at such 
a rate, that great difScnlty was experienced in keeping 
them, even on half rations ; and, but for the large qnantity 
of potatoes found in various clearings, the force must have 
retreated. No. 2 Division Armed Constabulary had arrived 
from the Bay of Plenty after their march back from 
Buatahana, and the European foroe at Onepoto amounted 
to 260 men, besides those holding the various posts in rear ; 
nearly three times too many, as 100 Pakehas and the 
same number of Maories would have been ample, had they 
secured boats, to have destroyed every Hauhan on the 
lake. Up to this time the enemy had kept carefully out 
ofsight; biiton the 10th of June, Trooper Noonan, carrying 
despatches, was waylaid and shot dead within two miles 

L, ,z,;i.,C00gIC 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 299 

of Onepoto, and hia letters and arms carried off by the 
enemy. After this, strong escorts were despatched with 
each convoy, making the work hard for the Europeans, as 
the Uaories refused to do this or any other duty. By 
this time the boats were finished, bat the men were not 
fated to reap laurels in this campaign ; for a change of 
ministry had taken place, and they viewing with alarm 
the very large expenditure of nearly £400 per diem, and 
the probability of small results, even thoogh the force 
crossed the lake, ordered Colonel Herrick to withdraw 
his men to Napier. The stores and material were packed 
back to Te Wairoa, bat the boats were filled with stones 
and sunk in sixty feet of water, 'where it was supposed 
it would be easy to fish them up again if reqaired. 

Forty meii were left as a garrison at Te Wairoa, the 
natives paid off and sent back to their respeotive districts, 
and the armed constabulary left em route for Taupo, where 
it was intended to employ them against Te Kooti, who 
had visited that place, and been joined by Te Heuhen 
and all the leading men of Ngatituwharetoa. The losses 
in this campaign will be shown by the following table. 
The friendly natives suffered severely, and most of the 
enemy were killed by them. 

Killed. Wmmdrd. 
Enropeani ^^^ 



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REHINISCENOBB OF THE 



CHAPTER LVI. 
THE TADFO CAHPAIQN. 



THE MASSACRE 07 COLONEL ST JOHN'S ESCORT AT OPEPE. Tl 
KOOTI'8 VISIT TO THE WAIKATO AND RETDRN TO LAKE 
TAUPO. 

Tb EooTt received intelligenoe of Colonel Wbitmore's 
attack upon Kuatahima, while resting at Waiksre Moana 
after his Mofaaka raid. Ho at onoe sent forward 100 men, 
tinder Faeran and Feka, and this party arrived in time to 
foUov the oolumnB in their retreat. Te Kooti and the 
main body arrived later, bnt had not the satisfaction of 
fighting the Fakoha. The active ruffian had, however, no 
intention of remaining quiet, but marched at once for 
Heroiwi, an old native village on the edge of the Main 
Bush, overlooking the Taupo plains. This position enabled 
him to watch the movements of the Pakeha, and choose 
his opportunity to cross the Kaingaroa plain on his long 
deferred visit to Te Heuhen, at Tokanu, and Kiiig 
Tawhiao, at Tokangamutu. While at this pUoe, two 
troopers of the Bay of Plenty Cavalry, carrying despatches 
from Colonel St. John, attempted to pass through the 
Tillage. 'I'hey were seen and waylaid by the HanhauB. 
One of them was shot, his body tied to his horse and 
started loose on the Kaingaroa plain ; the other man 
«flcaped minus his horse, and returned to Fort Galatea, 
when he found that Colonel St. John, with an escort of 
troopers, had left for I'anpo. 

On the following morning, Te Eooti and bis party 
left for Tanpo, and on the 7th of June came In sight of 
Opepe. The notorious Feka led the advanced guard, and 
was astonished to see smoke rising from the deserted 
whares, as they had not anticipated meeting anyone at 
this place. 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 301 

Word was sent back to Te Eooti, who ordered some of 
his men to Bannter up to tlie wharee and pretend that they 
were Arawas, while the main body crept up one of the 
numerous ravinea which intereect this part of the country', 
and cut the people off from the bush. The orders were 
well earned out. The HanhaoB walked up to the un- 
Buspecting men, who proved to be a party of the Bay 
of Plenty Cavalry, acting as escort to Colonel St. 
John, while that officer inspected the various poaitiona 
in Taupo with a view to future occupation. The escort 
were somewhat startled by the sight of these armed 
natives, but were reassured by their calling out and 
saluting them in Maori fashion "Tena kontou," and more 
still, by the Opotiki troopers recognising among them 
some of the Opotiki tribe, who said they belonged to the 
Arawa contingent. Others said they were Taupo natives, 
who had come to ascertain who it was occupying Opepe. 
During this conversation the Hauhaus had gradually 
got between the troopers and their arms, which bad 
been foolishly left in the whares. One or two of the 
men, who seem to have had doubts as to the character of 
their visitors, seeing other Maories coming out of the 
bush in skirmishing order, tried to get at their weapons, 
but were stopped by the Hauhaus, who, having no further 
need of ooncealment, commenced the massacre. Nine 
troopers were killed immediately, but Serjeant Detto, with 
Troopers Leary and Stephenson, suoceeded in getting into 
the bush and escaped, arriving at Fort Galatea, forty miles 
away, on the following day, when they informed Colonel 
Eraser of the almost total destruction of their party. 

Comet Smith, who was in command of the escort, 
escaped also, though severely wounded, and managed to 
reach Qalatea some days after the attack. Colonel 
St. John, Major Cummins, Captain Hoorsom, Lieutenant 
Clark, and an orderly, had left only a few hours pre- 
viouflly to visit Pohipio Eainga at Tapuaehamru, and 
thus escaped the fate of their escort. The £rst intima- 



302 BEM1N18CENCES OF THE 

tion they bad of the massacre was &om the MesBis. Hallet, 
who left Tapuaefaararu later oa the same da}>, «n rtnUe for 
Napier. On reaohisg Opepe they saw the half-naked 
bodies of two men lyiug near the traok, and without 
waiting to see more, galloped hack and infonueil Colonel 
8t John of the circomstanoe. That officer proceeded at 
onoe with a party of Maoriee to look for the bodies, and 
found nine. He then went on to Galatea, hoping to 
overtake or send help to those who had escaped, as they 
had neither food nor blankets, a aeriuus thing on the 
Tanpo plains in winter, where the thermometer frequently 
falls below freezing point. Ueanwhile Te Eooti, satis- 
fied with his doings, for he had taken all the arms and 
ammunition of the party, oontinued his march to Waita- 
hanni, where he camped. On the following day he reached 
Te Hatepe, and found a decrepit old man named Hona 
living there; Te £oQti wished to protect him, but the 
Uriwera took the first opportunity of shooting him. This 
act did Te Eooti more harm than anything he had pre- 
viously done, for Hona, insignificant as he appeared, ^na 
a near relative of the great Wanganui chief, Topia Tnroa, 
who eventually took re-venge by influencing the King 
party against Te Eooti, and by taking the field vrith 350 
men in the campaign that forced him back to his fast- 
nesses in the Uriwera country, with the loss of four-fifths 
of his men. Te Eooti'e influence was soon sapreiae in 
Taupo; the well-disposed men, like Hare Tauteka and 
Faora Hapi, withdrew from the lake, hut Te Heuhea, 
Fanrini, Whiripo, and Hatnahu joined him at once. 

When Te Kooti felt himself firmly established in 
Tanpo, be selected 300 men of various tribes as an escort 
to accompany him on his long deferred visit to Waikato- 
Several chieftt of note followed in his train, among tbem 
Hakaraia, of Tauranga notoriety, Faerau, of the Uriweia, 
and Te Warn. Waikato received due notice of the in- 
tended visit, and assembled at Tokangamuts to do thcor 
guest honour. On Te Eooti's arrival at that plaoe^ he 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gk' 



WA£ IN NEW ZEiXAND. SOS 

went to the quarters of the Ngatimaniapoto tribe, and vraa 
received moet enthudJaBtically hy Rewi Manga and his 
people ; but Waikato proper held aloof until Eewi §ent 
messengers, asking them to Tisit his guest. Five hundred 
of them responded to the invitation, and brought preeents 
of dried fish and flour. When thty arrived witliin a shoL't 
distance of the Tillage, To Kooti ordered his men to load 
with ball cartridge and fire over the heads of his visitors ; 
this estraordinar; proceeding startled and enraged Waikato 
to such an extent, that they threw down their intended 
presents, and declared that they would fight Te Kooti on 
the following day. This threat they did not carry out, 
but held carefully aloof. Te Kooti wasted a week waiting 
for Waikato to get over their anger, but as they carefully 
ignored his presence, be had to be oonteuted with the 
support of Eewi and Ngatimaniapoto, a few of whom, 
with their chief, accompanied him on hia return to Lake 
Taapo, in the firm belief that they should witness the 
utter destruction of the Fakehas and their allies, tbe 
friendly natives, against whom Te Kooti nourished a 
deadly hatred. It was this movement on the part of Te 
Kooti and Eewi that induced the Govemnient to with- 
draw the force from Waikare Moana and concentrate 
them at Tanpo, as it was clear that any reverse suflered 
by us in that district would convert Eewi and his tribe 
into active allies of Te Kooti, instead of passive spectators, 
as they then were. 

In pureuanoe of these designs, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Herriok, with 180 men of the armed constabulary, marched 
to Bnnanga, at the entrance to the Taupo plains, and 
erected a strong etookade, which it was intended should be 
the depot from whence the field force should be supplied. 
Other posts nearer Napier had been taken up for the same 
purpose, viz., Titioknra, Te Haroto, and Tarawera. At 
Eummga, Ueiriok was joined by Paora Hapi and forty 
men of the Ngatiterangiita tribe, and a few days after, 
Henare Tomoana and 120 Napier Maories joined the force. 

L;,.;,-z.d=,GoOgk' 



304 BEMINISCENOES OF THE 

TMb reinforcement enabled Colonel Heirick to take the 
field with nearly 200 men, after providing garrienna for 
the various poHts in rear, and that officer only awaited the 
arrival of Colonel McDonnell (who had chief command} 
to commuiice proceedings. 



CHAPTER LVn. 
THE TAUPO CAKPAIOTS—COntitVUad. 



On the 6th of September, 1869, Colonel AfcDonnell arrived 
in Napier, overland from VVangauni viji the Fatea-Taupo 
ooontf}-, and after a short interview with Air. Ormoad 
(Gkivemment agent), returned to Patea, with the intention of 
taking oumoiund of the Maoriee under Renata Kawepo and 
Hare Tautoka. With these men lie would ciokb the Rangipo 
desert at the foot of Ruapchu, and place Te Kooti (now 
at Rotoaira) between two fires, as Colonel Uerrick was 
advancing frum the north by way of Tokauu, on Lake 
Taupo. 

On the 8th, Henare Tomoana, with 140 men of his own 
and Paora Hapi'H tribe, atarted from Runaugo, and reached 
Tauranga on Lake Taupo next morning. Hardly had they 
nuuaddled their horees, when the sentiies observed a large 
body of men advancing towards their position with flags 
flying, evidently with the intention of attacking Henare's 
foroes. Paora Hapi, ever ready to fight, tried to induce the 
Napier men to sally out of the old pah and engage the 
enemy on the open plain ; but they had not the dash of the 
Tanpo men, and preferred to throw up hasty rifle-pits in 
the old tumble-down pah, and to leave their horees, 120 in 
number, to be taken by Te Eooti. The Hauhaus advanced 
steadily, throwing forward the flanks of their long line of 



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WAR ra NEW ZEALAND. 305 

skirmisheTs, frarrounded the pah on three flides, the fourth 
was eecured by the lake. 

As in most Maori engagements, very little dReh was seen 
on either side, but a heavy fire was kept up throughout the 
day, and towards evening, Te Kooti, finding the gsrrison 
of the pah nearly asnumeruna as his own force, and better 
armed, withdrew his men, having had three killed. 

Henare lost all his horses, and had three men wounded ; 
on the following day the attack was renewed, and a few 
more of our men were wounded, after which the Hauhaus 
withdrew inthe same aimlens manner. While this skirmish 
was in progress. Colonel Herrick was at liunanga with 
No. 2 and the mounted division of the armed constabalary, 
and marched with the latter ho soon as he heard of the 
affair. On the 12th, Colonel McDonnell, with seventy 
men of the Patea force, took possession of Sotoaira, which 
had been abandoned by the enemy, and scouted towards 
Tokanu. Here he found the Hauhaus in force, and shots 
were exchanged ; but as the oolonel's force was not one-fifth 
of the enemy's, he wisely abstained from attacking, and 
returned to Rotoaira, where he built a pah for the greater 
safety of his small force. On the following day tbe 
Wanganui chief Wirihana arrived with the remainder of 
Ihe Fatea force. Scouts were sent out, and it was found 
that Te Eooti had abandoned Tokanu, and was retreating 
in the direction of Moerangi. No time was lost in taking 
possession of this strategical position, and on the 16th, 
McDonnell and Herrick, with the men under their respec- 
tive commands, met at Tokanu. 

On the following day. Hare Tauteka reported that four 
of his scouts were missing, and was in great grief, as his 
prophetess declared that they had been killed by Te Kooti, 
consequently there could he no doubt about the matter. 
Such a prophetess ! h^ was written in every line of her 
face ; with a son still more dreadful to behold, for he was 
& victim to the Tanpo leprosy, or Ngeringeri, and was 
literally dying inch by inch, or more correctly joint by joint. 



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306 EEMINISGENCE8 OP THE 

Nevertheless tbe old lady iras strong in prophecy, not in 
the Belpbic line, but good, strong, outspoken asaertions. 

On the 19th, Captain McDonnell arrived from Wanganui, 
and reported himaelf as the advanced guard of seventy 
Maoriea, under Kepa ; he also stated that autne semi- 
Iriundly Hauhaus had informed him that four scouU had 
been murdered by Te Kooti, and their bodies thrown into 
a swamp. Colonel McDonnell had the place searched, and 
Iheir remains were found, literally cut to pieces ; after this 
Ijractioal proof of her powei-s, the old prophetess walked 
about with an air that defies desonption, bnt something 
resembling that of an Irish gentleman at Doanybrook fair. 

McDonnell had incautiously ezpreflsed some doubt as to 
her powers, but as he thoroughly understood the value of 
a well trained prophetesH, he sent for her, and was con- 
verted to Buoh an extent, that all her after prophecies 
were in the interests of the force, and sounded strangely 
like McDouuell'u own opinions. Towards the end of tbe 
campaign her visious were rather wild, bat she held her 
own against the opposition seer (Henare Tomoaua's), and 
denounced him as an impostor. Hare Taateka, a very 
pleasant specimen of the Itlaori Bangatira, was much cot 
up at the death of his four scouts, an account of which 
was afterwards heaid from a prisoner. They had taken np 
their position in a bush near one of the frontier villages, 
and being short of food, had gone to the kainga to get 
potatoes ; it was late when they reached the plaoe, so they 
decided to sleep in one of tbe whares, thinking they wonld 
besafefor one night. But it was not to be; they had been 
watched from the ranges by two parties of the enemy, 
each forty strong, and seeing the scouts enter the whare, 
they descended from their position and surrounded the 
hut. The four doomed men were asleep, and had fastened 
their guns to the centre pillar of the whare ; this was 
perceived by the enemy, who peered through the chinks 
of the door, and by the light of the fire took in the whole 
situation. In a moment they had burst open the door> 

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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 307 

seized the Rnaa, and secared the men ; they were dragged 
outside before Te Kooti, who offered to apare their lives if 
they would join his band, bat to this offer they gave a 
decided refosal. In the morning they were brought out 
and offered the same tenns, which they again refuseil. 
Te Eooti then ordered their execution, and they were 
chopped to pieces and thrown into the s^mp. 

An aooount which there is every reason to believe true, 
in related of one of these mec (a Waikato) ; he was a chief 
of eoine note, and at the time referred to was a staunch 
supporter of the king movement. At one of the many 
meetings held by his party, he gave his opinion as follows : 
'* If the F&keha attack ns, and we intend to win, we mnst 
not niD from our pits directly they charge ; so listen all of 
you, if in our first engagement I see a man run away, I 
will shoot him." He kept his word, for at Eohiroa, when 
Sir DunoaD Cameron led the 14th Begiment to the charge, 
a man near the chief rose to retire, and he shot him dead. 
There was some difference of opinion among the Waikatoa 
about this deed, but as the victim was a man of no con- 
sequence, the affiiir died out. The chief, however, declared 
that if they persisted in running away, it was useless 
fighting, and th&t they had better give in at once. Snch 
being his opinion, he declared he would make an example 
of the next runaway ; he was as good as his word, for at 
Bongiaohia he shot another, but this time it was a man of 
rank, whose relations made such a Aiss, that the chief was 
banished from Waikato. He joined his connections in 
Taupo, and opposed the king party as warmly as he had 
formerly supported them ; but, outcast as he was from 
his tribe, Te Kooti did not help his cause by killing 
him, for Waikato had not forgotten his existence. The 
weather at this period was unusually severe, bad even for 
Taupo; continued heavy rain, and consequently floods all 
over the oonntry, prevented the supplies of biscuit and 
groceries being sent up from Bunanga. Luckily there was 
plenty of meat and potatoes, or the force would have &rcd 
X 2 

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308 REMINISCENCES OP THE 

badly, for all tbrough this campaTgn they never reoeived 
on an average two days' rations of bucuit and groceries 
per week. 

The men now occupied both Botoaira and Tokann, 
Colonel McDonnell being at the former place. On the 
24th of September, an orderly, who had been eent with 
despatches to Tokanu, returned and reported that he had 
been fired upon by an ambuscade of the enemy and foroed 
to return. 

The friendly natives refosed to believe this atory, and on 
the following morning. Colonel McDonnell rode oat with 
twelve troopers to scout the places when near Tokann, 
they were fired upon by the Hanhaas, who had taken up 
a position on the spurs of the range commanding the 

The oolonel and bis troopers galloped past them, and met 
the Taupo natives from Tokanu, nnder Captain St. Oeoiga 
and Lieutenant Freece, who, alarmed at the firing, weio 
hurrying to the attack. The oolonel diemounted and 
joined them. The enemy were in poaiieBsioQ of all the 
high ground above the camp to the crest of the hill, which 
was densely wooded ; and at the point where the track 
entered the bush, the enemy had thrown up a long line of 
rifie-pits. The spurs of the ranges were now thronged by 
the enemy, who advanced with loud cries to the attack ; 
but, after sums sharp skirmitthing, our Maories, led by their 
European officers, charged and drove them back on their 
support* 80 quickly, that the killed and wounded were left 
in our hand& One of the latter, a tall savage, who had 
been shot in the knee, was a«ked by a chief whether he 
had been at the Poverty Bay massacre, or at the death of 
the four scouts. " At both," he replied ; and some hours 
after, Hohepa might still have been seen flourishing about 
with this man's head. The enemy now rallied, and charged 
down the spurH, but McDonnell ordered his men to lie close, 
and wait for the enemy at close quarters ; they did so, and 
gave them a volley that sent them fiying to the bosh in 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gk' 



WAR IN NEW ZEAIaAND. 309 

disorder. Te Eooti was liere in person, and made a Btand 
at the rifle-pits on the edge of the biiah, bat to no purpOM, 
for Lieutenant Preece, at the bead of the Taupo men, took 
them with a msh, and the enemy broke and flod down the 
wooded range, leaving most of their killed and wounded 
behind them. The latter were soon despatched, for Colonel 
MoDonDell was not a man likely to ttpare scoundrels who 
openly boasted of having participated in the Poveity Bay 
massacre ; in fact, there has never been an officer iii New 
Zealand with less of the maudlin sen ti mentality, known 
as Exeter Halliem, than he. In this fight, called Te 
Pononga by the Maoriee, the enemy had 250 men engaged, 
and left seven bodies on the field ; our strength was about 
tlie same, and our loss two killed and four wounded. This 
skirmioh, apparently small in its results, was in reality of 
very great importance ; for in the first place, it lost Te 
Kooti his prestige among the inland tribes, be Laving been 
beaten in a position chosen by himself, and by an exclusively 
Maori force of barely equal strength ; secondly, it decided 
Bewi as to his future line of conduct, for had we been 
beaten, there can be no doubt that the powerful tribe of 
Kgatimaniapoto, always inimical to ns, would have thrown 
in. their lot with Te Kooti, This would simply have meant 
600 fighting men of a superior class turned loose npon 
the northern boundary of Taranaki, and upon the Waikato 
plains. 

But Te Pononga turned the scale in our favour, and 
Bewi letomed to Waikato, where he expressed his opinion 
openly that Te Kooti was an impostor. 



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BEMINISCENCES OF THE 



CHAFTKR LVm. 
THE TA0PO OAKPAiOH — eonttnued. 



On the evetiiiig of tlie fight, No. 2 DiTision, under Sub- 
Inspectora Soaimell and Northoroft, arrived at Tokann ; 
and McDonnell annoimoed his intention of following the 
enemy np next day, bat late in the evening a meBsenger 
arrived from Eepa (who was on bis way with seventy 
picked men), requesting HoDonnell not to fight nntil he 
arrived. This MoDomiell agreed to do, as he felt that by 
waiting a day or two, he would have the aaaiBtanoe of 
seventy trostworthy men, who, with No. 2 DiviGion, conid 
command snooeee under any circumstanoes. The weather 
was bitterly cold at this time, and the men, not over- 
hardened with blankets, inffered exceedingly, and would 
have done so much more but for the magnifioent hot aprings 
that surrounded tbem on all sides. Two-thirds of the 
foToe were generally to be found in the large circular spring, 
sitting with the water up to their chins, discnssing the 
topics of the day. In fact it was a sort of dab-rocxn for 
the men, but a very dangerous one ; for at this period the 
largest of the hoUing springs, distant scarcely twenty yards 
from the bathing- place, was in a state of great irritation, 
and about twice a week would blow np with very littie 
warning, throwing a column of boiling water a hundred 
feet high. The Kaoriea had never previously seen it in 
this state of blow-up ; but the cause was explained, when 
the eruption of Ngauruhoe took place a few months after. 
To add to SfcDonnell's troubles at this period, Henare 
Tomoana's prophet dreamed a dream, to the effect tbat 
Waikato had joined Te Eooti, and tbat they were about to 
attack Botoaira. lliis excited the fears of Benata Eawepo 



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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 31t 

to snoh an extent, tbat withoat consalting the colonel, be 
sent a tneeaenger to Heuare at Tokanu, desiring him to 
bring np his men at once. 

Next morning they arriTed id oamp, and when the 
colonel expreeeed his dissatisiaotion with the movement, 
and requested them not to leave their posts ag&in without 
orders, Benata replied that he should do as he liked, 
McDonnell at onoe told him to retnm to Napier, as he did 
not want diwibedient men. This changed the chiefs tactico, 
and he became more traotable, and in a fit of candour 
explaiaed tbat out of bis 300 men there were not more 
than sixty who would fight. The colonel naturally aaked 
what the others were there for, " There for ? " said Benata, 
" why, to see the others fight, and to make a noise." 

The force now kept close to camp, to enoonrage the 
enemy, who grew bolder every day and swept off all the 
stray cattle and horses ; but tiie day of reckoning was at 
hand, for McDonnell only awaited the arrival of Eepa 
and his Wanganuis. There was no time to be lost, for 
potatoes were getting scarce, but luckily the camp was 
well supplied with meat from Mnrimotn. 

This state of inaction did not suit McDonnell, and to 
pass the time he took out the mounted division on a 
reoonnoitring expedition and came acroxs the enemy, who 
were decamping from a village which had been partially 
fco^fied. They were moving across the plains towards 
the Iwitnaroa range which divides Taupo from Tnhua, to 
the north-west of Tongariro. 

The troops were very anxious to charge them ; but 
McDonnell, who intended something more decisive when 
he did act, would not allow it, for Te Kooti bad nearly 
three hundred men, and it needed a severe lesson to break 
op this force effectually. On the 1st of October, Kepa 
and his men arrived at Botoaira. It was but a small 
detachment, but they were all tried men; their delay had 
been caused by the dreadfhl weather, the illness of their 
leader, and by the misrepreseotation of Te Aro, This 

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312 EEMINKCENCEB OF THE 

chief, for reaaons boat known to hiraself, had oonButently 
misled Kepa as to the distance and depth of mow on tbe 
Bangipo desert; moreover, he had uapleaeant dreanw, 
which everyone knows are serious things with Uaories. 
McDonnell's work at this period was anything bat light, 
mentally speaking. It was no easy matter to keep 
harmony among the different tribes, and at the same time 
allay the superstitious dread still feit towards Te Eooti. 
His foroe whs in many ways oomposed of very disoordant 
materials, and inattention to any of their grievances or 
peculiarities might have proved diKastrons to the coontry 
at large. The Arawa and Napier tribes now prepared for 
a war-danoe to greet the Wanganuis, who were slowly 
advanoii^ in oolnmn, stripped naked, and riflea at the port, 
Reuata Eawepo and tbe other chie& sallied oat of tb^r 
pah naked as the day they were bom and waded the river ; 
nfter the usual challenge, Wauganui came on and the 
Kapier tribes opened the performance. Only one man has 
ever Buc3oeeded in describing the war-dance, so I refer 
my readers to "Old New Zealand" for that, frerfy 
acknowledging my inability to help them. At the oloee 
of the dance, Ngatikahungunu formed ft-ont two deep, and 
a hoarse cry went down the rankB of " Eyes right," with 
an addition of " Pai ia rewhi " (by your left), which was 
promptly obeyed by bringing the muzzles of their ri£es to 
the front, capping, and then, after whirling the guns two 
or three times over their heads, snapping them off at 
Wanganui, who were kneeling in column of fours, their 
eyes on the ground, and heads turned a little in listening 
attitude — in fact, they were doing it properly. The 
ceremony of snapping the caps (called the oap-dance) was 
gone through three times and was done in capital time, 
when again the command " Eyes right " was heard, and 
tliey all knelt down as Wanganui sprang to their ibet. 
Kepa, who seldom took part in a war-danoe,. now appeared 
stripped to the waist, lean and gaunt &om his late iUness, 
and led off his men in fii-st-rate btyle. At the conclusion. 



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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 313 

the renowned little fighting man Winiata called out to 
Ngatikabungunu ia broken EDglish, mixed with much bod 

language, " Too much you make a loose the oape; my 

word, Colonel Gorton (Inspector of Stores) make you pay." 
The Napier men now began a series of performauoeB of 
the most disgusting nature that can possibly be imagined. 
If Dame Goody of Exeter Hall had but been present, I 
fancy it would rather have cleared away the fog in which 
that venerable old lady is enveloped with respect to the 
ChristiauiBed state of the natives. 

Warlike speeches followed the dances, and Renata 
Eawepo, after a long tirade, proposed tiat in a week's time 
they should march out and look for Te Eood. Kepa, a 
man of acknowledged ability in warlike matters, was 
not likely to stand dictation &om any chief, so he and 
McDonnell ignored the suggestion, and agreed that Wan- 
ganni should rest during Sunday, and attack Te Kooti 
on Monday. 

Some little time previous to this, the men at Tokanu 
under Colonel Herrick bad been marched over the range 
to Eotukutuku, where the prophetess and her leper son 
resided, this being a more central poaitioa from which to 
act against the enemy. The order of march wasas follows: 
Kepa, with the Wanganui, Taupo, and Napier tribes, was 
to oiarch on Sunday night from Foutu by the left shore of 
Lake Eotoaira, and endeavour to get in rear of Te Kooti's 
pah on the Iwituaroa rai^e before daybreak and lie 
perdue. McDonnell with the mounted division. No. 2 
Armed Constabnlaiy, and the Arawas, would march from 
Eotukutuku on Monday morning, and eng^^ the enemy 
by a fiilse attack in iront, leaving the old prophetess at 
their camp to bum some old wharea and create plenty of 
smoke, to deceive the onomy into the belief that the 
greater portion of our men were still in camp. MoDcnnell 
further intended to retreat hastily directly he was 
attacked, and thus give Kepa time to close up in rear and 
draw Te Eooti out on the plains, where he could hardly 

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314 BEMINI8CENCE8 OF THE 

&il to be cut to pieces. Itenata's raBcally propket die- 
arranged all theee plans, m will be Beeia. 

McDonoell left Fontn with the mounted diTision, who 
had to lead their horaeB up the steep eidea of the hills that 
roee like the roofa of booses right ont of the lake, and 
reached Kotnkntnkn jnat before sundown ; Te Kooti'a pah 
was -risible from here, and by the aid of a glass the enemy 
oould be seen walking on the parapets. 



CHAPTEE LIX. 

THE TADPO OA.HPAION — oimtmued. 

THE FiaHT AT EAITERIRIA. DEATH OF CAPTAIN ST. GEORGE. 

Before taming in for the night, McDonnell ooUected the 
Arawa and made them a speech, recalling to their minds 
ell that their ancestors had done, the many fights they 
themselves had fonght, and how bravely be had seen 
them hold their own. " Think of Matata ; recall to yonr 
minds Waihi, Uaketn, and Botorua, when we defeated 
Waikato ; and shall we allow this tutua (common fellow), 
this npoko kohua (boiled bead) and his hand, who are 
only fit to kill women and war with children, to remain 
in his pah and insult us ? Wanganui and Benata's 
people are in rear of the pah ; their names have been 
more loudly proclaimed than yoois ; but I place my trast 
in yon, and am here to lead yon. I need no reply ; let 
your actions speak to-morrow." Snch was the etnun in 
which McDonnell spoke, and with good effect, for 
bounoeable and absnrd as it may soncd to oar eats, it is 
mild compared with the inflated bunkum used by their 
own chiefe on similar occasions. Oaptain St. Gecsge also 
spoke a few words to his men, and then all retired for the 
night, each one choosing the softest spot of gronnd he 
oould find. The gallant St. George slept his last sleep on 

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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. S15 

earth, but McDoDoell was too anxionB about the move- 
ment of Kepa'e force, particularly after seeing the flush of 
a match Btrook on the other side of the lake, which act of 
folly, MoDonDell Tioionsly remarked, could only come &om 
Hawkee Bay. Before Bunrise, the force under UcDoimell 
had breakfasted and commenDed their march ; they soon 
TOTtnded the lake and reached the village of Fapakai, 
where, to the oolonel'a annoyance, he foand Eepa just 
arrived, instead of being, as he shonld have been, in rear 
of Poarere. Eepa and Captain McDonnell explained that 
the delay was caused by the Napier tribes, who had 
hindered the march as mnoh as possible, beoanse their 
prophet had foretold that some serions disaster wonld 
happen. Colonel AfoDonnell, natarally exasperated, 
walked up to Bensta, and asked Mm the reason of his 
extraoTdiDary behaviour. His reply amused everyone, for 
be evidently wished to show off before the other chiefs. 
He said that he had given orders to halt, and wished to 
have breakfast ; that he wrb going to take the direction 
of afiairs, and that after food was oooked he wonld send a 
herald with this (prodnoing the roBty hopper of a steel 
floor-mill, to be nsod as a tmmpet) to sTunmon the enemy 
to surrender. He wonld give them on© day to tiiink over 
it, and if the enemy were obstinate, he wonld then con- 
sider the beet way of making them surrender. While 
Kenata was disolosing his intentions, MoDonnell, seeing 
the futility of contesting the point with such an obstinate 
old savage, rapidly formed another plan, and proceeded at 
once to execute it. Benata and his 300 men knew that 
nothing oould be done satisfactorily without them, and 
thoQght that they had the game in their own hands ; so 
MoDonnell said nothing, but rather seemed to agree with 
them, and strolled off towards St. Oeoi^ and the Arawas. 
The village of Fapakai consisted of a long row of huts 
built on the edge of the bush that Mnged the table-land, 
from which Tongariro rose. To the front and left was 
perfectly level country up to the Iwltnaroa range, distant 



316 EEimnSCENCEa OP THE 

about two tnilea, at the bottom of which, on some table- 
land, was Te Kooti's pah Fourere. The men had b^nn 
to cook food in the ntmal native oven, Wanganol and the 
Europeans on the right, Ngatikahungunu in the oentre, 
and the Arawa on the left. UoDonnell found St. George 
at the latter oamp, and taking him apart, informed him of 
Kenata's behaviour and his ^teted plana. St. Geoi^ 
entered oordially into the affair, and when the colonel 
left, he called out some of hia young men, and got them to 
follow him on to the plain to have a look at the pah ; here 
he kept them engaged, while McDonnell, who had ex- 
plained his plans to Colonel Hernok, went to Wanganni, 
and oolled out, " The Arawa are off to the pah I quick, or 
you will be cut out 1 Away, mount tho hill and get on the 
table-land; the Europeans will go with you." Wangauoi 
roae like one man ; never should on Arawa be before tliem. 
" Tatua, tatna I " (ann, arm) was the cry, and they daahed 
through the bnsh and mounted the table-land. St. Oeorge 
waited until he saw them moving straight fur the paJi, 
when he suddenly shouted out, "Titiro ki Wanganai" 
(look at Wanganni) ; " they are going to deprive us of tlie 
credit of the day, they are going to take the pah." The 
young Arawas looked, and without more ado, led by 
St Qeorge, they made straight for the pah, keeping 
parallel with Wai^anui, who were on the plateau above 
them. McDonnell, seeing the suooeas of his plan, then 
went to Renata, and with an appearance of childlike 
innooenoe, said, " I thought you had given orders not to 
attack the pah to-day I Have you changed your mind 
about the white flag and tho mill hopper ? " " No," replied 
the chief. "Very well," said McDonnell, "Wanganni 
and the Arawa are off to take it, and I am going to 
follow." Bonata looked for a moment at the oolong he 
felt that he had been outwitted, and accepted his defeat. 
Only one thought seemed to poaseas him — that he and his 
men must not allow Te Eooti to be beaten without their 
help. He seized his rifle, and calling oat, "0 tribe! 



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WAB IX NEW ZEALAND. 817 

Cullect them, colonel ; aue, ane ! " (alas, alas). " tribe I 
quick ! quiok t" and the old fellow harried off with his 
people to the scene of action. " 0, colonel," said he, " its 
all through that prophet, Honare's poropiti ;" and then, 
in a fit of intense exasperation, shouted, " Humbug the 
poropiti," for the old fellow waa not wanting in plnok. 

The enemy, seeing the Arawa adTancing, sent a party 
to take possession of the high ground, over which Eepa 
and his tribe were marching unseen by them, and hod just 
opened a sharp fire on the left flank of the Arawa, when, to 
their great aetoiiishment, they found themselves assailed 
by Wanganui in such rough fitshion, that they had to 
beat a retreat across the river, followed by onr men like ft 
pack of hounds. 

Winiata, as nsnal, killed the first man, and two others 
were left by the retreating Hauhaus. 

Meanwhile, the Arawa and Taupo men were not idle. 
They waded the river under fire, and carried a email 
earthwork (used as a picket station) with a rush, and 
killed some of the enemy. McDonDell, with a few of 
Benata's people, now came up and joined in the attack, 
and Wanganui, pressing forward, separated into two 
parties ; one under Wirikana attacked Te Heuhen's pah, 
while the main body, under Kepa, dashed up the hilt for 
Te Kooti's pah, Winiata and Turei leading. St. George, 
seeing the state of things, and that Wanganui would 
take no denial, called on hia men to follow, and away they 
went in hot pursuit. 

In a few minutes, two aides of the redoubt were lined 
'with onr men, who began to fire through the loopholes; 
the enemy gaining no more benefit frum their parapet 
(which was eight feet high and four feet thick) than our 
men did, for there were no angles to sweep the ditch. 
Winiata with hia usual danng thrust his arm into a loop- 
hole, and seizing the muzzle of a rifie, dragged it through 
before the owner could fire ; others stuffed lumps of pumice 
into the loopholes, lo stop the enemy's fire, while the 



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318 REMINISCENCES OP THE 

parapet waa being Dndermined. But thia slow work did 
not eoit the fiery 8pirits| outside, and Winiata, ever ready 
to diBtingnish bimaelf, climbed the parapet, and fired rifle 
after rifle, as they were handed np to him, amongthemaasM 
of the enemy inside. But the poor little fellow's heroic 
career was soon ended. A bullet fired from below parted 
through his brain, and he rolled a corpse into the ditdi. 

Thna died Winiata Fakoro, the moat renowned fighting 
man of fighting Ngatihaa ; and so long aa that tribe exists, 
eo long will thoy speak with pride of his deeds, and of the 
many tribal enemies hesent to their longaooonnt. While 
No. 2 Division were ascending the hill on the opposite ude 
of the pah to support Eepa, they were joined by Caplain 
St. George and some of his men. A number of the enemy, 
out off from the pah by our rapid advance, had occapied s 
piece of bush, and now opened a smart fire upon the flaDb 
of No. 2 Armed Constabulary, with the view of aaaiiiting 
the escape of their beleaguered comrades. Hesitation would 
now have been fatal, as most of the enemy would have 
escaped ; so McDonnell hastily detached a party against 
the Hauhans in the bush, while he led the rest against the 
pah. They were reoeived with a volley, but, strange to eav, 
the only person hit was St. George, who throwing up his 
arms, took two or three paces Furwaid, and fell dead, with 
a bullet through his brain. Meanwhile Wanganui, ex- 
asperated by the death of Winiata, and well seconded by the 
other tribes, scaled the parapet and stormed the pah. "So 
quarter was given to tbose who remained, all were shot or 
bayoneted. Colonel McDonnell had a very narrow escape; 
one of the Hanhaus near the gate of the redoubt waited until 
he was within a few yards of him, and then levelled his 
rifle. The colonel, who thought the man had sniTendered, 
no sooner saw the action than be sprang forward, and strode 
up the muzzle aa the pieoe exploded. 

Another moment, and the noble savage was lying brained 
by the butt of a rifie ; making, aa McDonnell remarked, s 
total of ten killed by him at various times. Thirty-seven 

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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 819 

of the enemy were biiried after the fight, and about thirty 
women and children taken priaoners ; the mounted division 
also recaptured Henare'e horaeB that had been taken at 
the Taaranga skinnitih. 

Our loBS was small, if ooantod by nnmbers, being four 
killed and four wounded, but St. George and Winiata 
could not have been replaced by fifty men. No. 2 Armed 
Constabulary, after clearing the bush before mentioned, 
found two women lying severely wounded in the ecrab ; 
Dr. Gibbs was sent for, and he pronounoed the elder to be 
mortally wounded, bnt said the girl, wbo had a shattered 
knee, might recover. The latter stated that tihe was related 
to Henare Tomoana, so McDonnell sent for the chief and 
told him to carry her to camp, as there was hope of her 
ultimate recovery. This he refused to do, and wanted to 
shoot her. Such barbarity conld hardly be allowed ; so 
No. 2 Division took charge of the girl, and carried her out 
to Pouta most carefully, and handed her over to the women 
of Henare's tribe- A few days after, the chief c^me to 
McDonnell, and told him that the girl was one of the 
women who bad betrayed the Mohaka tribe to Te Kooti, 
and that he should therefore shoot her; he was warned not 
to commit so atrodous an act, unless he wished to be dis- 
graced, but it was shortly after reported that the woman 
had died from ber wounds. Eenata Eawepo met wiih 
what would have been a most laughable accident, had it 
not been bo serious. During the fight he had entered the 
bush by himself, and came across two Hauhaus, a man and 
a wpman (the latter's husband had just been shot in the 
pah). They both attacked Benata, and a severe stru^e 
oommeilced. Luckily for the chief, a constable of No. 2 
and an Arawa came up during the afiur, and made things 
even by shooting the man ; they then stood by to see &ir 
play, as the girl was evidently a match for her adversary. 
Afterasbarp tussle, the Amazon got Benata down, gouged 
out one of his eyes, tore his ear to pieces, taking the green- 
stone ornament, and otherwise so mauled him, that he 



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320 REMINISCENCES OP THE 

fainted with the pain, and bad to be carried to Papakai on 
a litter. It was ratber bard on tbe cbief, bnt be was a most 
obetinate old fellow, and tbe woman received more sym- 
pathy than be from all but bia own tribe, who vrere 
furious. 

But for tbe Arawa, who took ber prisoner when tbinga 
were getting severe, Benata must have been killed. Henare 
Tomoana demanded that she sbonld be surrendered to him ; 
but McDonnell bad a lively rocollection of tbiH cbiers be- 
haviour to tbe other girl, and refused, oansing her to be 
brought to bit tent, leet they should take ber by foroe. 

When there, she was asked to relate her battle with tbe 
old chief, and her eyes literally blazed as she recounted the 
figbt, adding, " I only wish I had killed him ; I should not 
then regret tbe loss of my bosband bo much," " Ha will 
lose an eye," said McDonnell. " Eaitoa" (serve him right) 
said the virago. During tbe whole night the Kapier tribes 
were firing away their ammunition, to the great disgUBt of 
tbe other Maorics. In the morning it was found that they 
bad expended 2500 rounds. After the fight at Pourore, tbe 
furce returned and camped at Papakai, and the next day 
McDonnell went to Poalu for ammunition. On his return 
be fonnd that the men had moved to Otakou, where there 
were still a few potatot^s. 

Daring that night, Henare's prophet had another dream, 
about an attack from Waikato; consequently all tbe 
NgatikabuDgimn returned to Poutu, where McDonnell 
allowed them to remain until be could persuade them to 
return to their homes, they being neither useful nor 
ornamental. Food was now very scarce, nearly all the 
potatoes being done ; consequenllj Eepa and his men were 
Bent to Kotiikutiiku, and the Europeans returned to 
Tokanu, there to await the arrival of rations. McDonnell, 
taking advantage of the unavoidable delay in following np 
Te Eooti, sent one of the women prisoneia with a mees^ie 
to Te Henhen, warning bim to leave Te Kooti, and sur- 
render, or he would bo followed to the hitter end. Two 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 321 

dayfl after the chief arrived, and surrendered with aeveral 
ot his tribe. 

Te Heuheu was submisaive enough to the European and 
Wanganui Maoriea, but extremely hitter against Hohepa 
Taraamutu and the Taupo natives, blaming them for all 
that happened ; firatly for having him to be made prisoner 
by Te Kuoti, and secondly for fighting against him. He 
concluded bin speech by expressing a wish that Hohepa had 
led the storming party, that he might have shot him dead. 
It is quite probable that Te Heuheu's statement (that he was 
a prisouer, and therefore obliged to fight) was tme, for 
there is no doubt that Te Kooti hated him. The chief 
gave us oonsiderable information, but none of vital im- 
portauce ; from him it was leamt that Te Kooti had been 
wounded in tlie assault on Pourere, a bullet having struck 
him on the hand while in the act of taking a percussion- 
cap from his wiiUtooat pocket. Tbe bullet wounded the 
thnmb and fore finger, cut the third finger completely off, 
and passed through the fleshy part of his side. 



CHAPTEE LX. 
THE TAIJPO CAMPAIQH— COn^tnUAj. 



OtjR Taupo force had now a series of marches and counter- 
marches before them in order to find the whereabouts of 
the enemy, who were so well served by their scouts that 
they had little or no difGoulty in avoiding xu, A deeoription 
of one of these expeditions will serve for the whole, and 
save the reader much dry iteration. The column started 
from Fapakai on the evening of the 22nd October, for a 
night march round the base of Mount Tongariro ; the 
whole of this district is intereeoted by swamps and ravines 



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322 B£1IINISCENCES OF THE 

difficult to croflB eren in dayligbt, and by night prodnotrvs 
of many tambles and macli bad language ; for on a night 
march it is neual to mo-ra in Indian file, each man holding 
on to or following the coat-tails of the man in front; and 
should he happen to full into a lavine, there would in all 
probability be four or five armed men on the top of him 
in a moment. At daylight the colonel found himeelf 
enveloped in a dense f<:%, on the edge of the forest vrhem 
Te Kooti was supposed to be. Thus far, everything was 
favourable, but about an hour after daylight it began to 
rain in a manner peculiar to Taupo, defying macintoahea 
and all the artfl of man; creating intense discomfort, 
particularly as the force had the unpleasant pro^>eDt 
before them of some hours' march in the bush, and a 
soaking wet camp at night, tents not being included in the 
impedimenta of the force. Traces of snudl parties of the 
enemy were found, but nothing to lead to the belief that 
tbe main body of the Hauhaua were in the neighbourhood. 
After eighteen hours' marching McDonnell called a halt, 
and (he column camped, wet, tired, snd hungry. Luckily, 
there were llaories present who, if they have not fire at 
their finger's end always ready (like their great mythical 
ancestor, Mahuika), yet manage to produce it in a marvel- 
lously short space of time, and the men were aoonn-arm, if 
not dry. On the following morning the column reaamed 
its march through the still pouring rain, turning their 
steps homeward, having given up tbe search for Te Kooti. 
En route they fell in with and captured one of the worst 
of bis band, an escaped Chatham Islander named Tawhana, 
a sou of the turbulent old chief, Bangihiroa, who was killed 
at Fetane. The pi-iaoner was questioned by McDonnell 
as to Te Eooti's whereabouts, but nothing was elicited 
from him but lies ; for, ignoring the foot that he was 
personally known to all the Napier tribes present, he 
denied his identity, and expressed great surprise that any 
one of the name of Te Eooti had ever existed. Up to this 
point he had done pretty well, but when he went on to 



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WAB m NEW ZEALAND. 323 

state that lie had yaet oome from Pipiriki, on the Wanganni 
river, and had seen two ateamerB there, the whole oolmnii 
were struck with admiration at his inventive powers. 
Btrange to s&j, be was not (thot; the grandeur of Ma 
imagination had saved him. It waa a pity hia memory 
had not been qniokened and the qnestion pat k la Maori, 
as in a oase I once witneaeed, where it had the desired 
effect. A prisoner was taken who had a short memory ; 
be sat on the gronnd in the centre of a ring of stem faces, 
perhaps all the sterner that the captive was so childlike 
and bland bis judges were really puzsled. Suddenly, a 
mere boy Baid in a very matter-of-fact tone, " I am going 
to shoot that man, so getoutof the line of fire." Ageneral 
scatter was the consequence. The captive's &ce~got very 
anxious as the boy levelled his rifle, and every breath was 
held ; three times was the rifle levelled, with the apparent 
intention of hitting the man in the eyes. The captive, 
afler gazing steadily at hia executioner for a second or two, 
became unable to stand the strain on his nerves, and covered 
bis face with hia hands ; suddenly the hammer fell, and, to 
the astonishment of every one, the cap only exploded. 
The captive gave a convnisive start, and the boy, after 
some nncompli men taiy remarks to his gnn, pat on another 
cap, saying he would have better luck next time ; but his 
victim's nerves had already given way, and he intimated 
his readiness to speak the truth in future. It was not 
until after be had given the information required that he 
was told the boy had only been playing with him, the 
charge in his gun having been previously withdrawn. On 
arrival at the camp, McDonnell ordered the Ngatikahun^nn 
tribes to return to their homes at Napier, as he felt himself 
strong enongh without them to destroy Te Kooti if he 
could find faim. and was very glad to get rid of this 
troublesome and disobedient part of his heterogeneous 
force. Some further time was spent in useless marching, 
before it was diiscovered that Te Eooti had retired to the 
king's country, wbere he was at the present time safe, it 
T 2 



324 REHraiSCENCBB OF THE 

not being couBiderecl adTiealile to riak an embroglio with 
Waik&to ; for to have done this would immediately luve 
plaoed in Te Kooti's hands the whole of the Waikftto and 
Ngatimainapoto tribes, which would have pleased the 
ruffian vastly. The potatoes, which had hitherto formed 
the chief food of the force, failed altogether, and McDonnell, 
finding it impoaible to keep his men together, rtluctantly 
sent back the Wanganuis to their own countiy, where 
Kepa's presence was urgently reqnirod, Topia Turoa, the 
great ancestral chief of the tribe, having sent him word to 
the effect that he had a message of great importance from 
the king, which he wonid only divulge in Eopa's prexence. 
The solution of this mystery was anxiously looked for; 
when it came, it was bo far BHtinfactory that Waika(o 
had withdrawn their protection from Te Eooti, and had 
requested Topia to join Kepa in hunting this bend of 
murderers out of the Maori king's district. Jvothing 
could be more desirable, fur the chief had never forgotten 
Hona's death ; and instant preparation was made, so that 
by the lilth December 600 men under the two chiefs 
started from I'ipiriki on their journey up the river to 
Taumarunui (Te Mamaku's pah), where they expected to 
find the enemy, as that turbulent old warrior had joined 
the Hauhans. They met him eventually at Karaekowhai 
with most of his tribe, and the ubual war-dances being 
gone through, the old chief coolly ordered Topia to retnm ; 
thin was promptly refused, and in such a manner as to 
leave no room for mistake in the intention of out war 
party. Mamaku underxtoud the catic, and he not only 
submitted with a good grace, but became fiiendly at once, 
supplying the Taua with food, and even informed them 
that Te Kooti was at Makokomiko, about thirty miles 
further on ; at the same time he sent a message to Te Kooti, 
telling him to escape while he conid, as the Wangannie 
were on his trail. Un the same day an envoy from the 
king arrived at Maraekowhai with a letter to Topia< 
approving of his march, and urging him to go on. The 

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WAB DJ NEW ZEALACT). 325 

fact wae that Waikato vaa in a state of alarm, leet Te Eooti 
should go to Te Kniti and do aa he threatened — make hU 
own lawH. Te Eooti, however, took Mamakn's advice, 
and left Tanpo and Tuhna, and on the 12th of January he 
tnrned up at Patatere, where he vaa joined by Hakuvia, 
Uahi te Ngam and the Ngatiraakawa. 

There is, perhaps, nothing more astonishing in Te Eooti'a 
career, than the power he possessed orer the minds of his 
fellow-Maoriee. Occasionally snocessfal in hia raids, yet 
invariably beaten in fair fight, he could, nevertheless, 
persnade or frighten any tribe into joining him. After 
the hardships and losses during the Poverty Bay campaign, 
where not leas than one bnndred and fifty of his men 
were killed, the Uriweras joined him readily to attack 
Whabatane ; and although they lost twenty men, and were 
driven back to their own country, yet it did not prevent 
them from again coming to his assistanoe at Uohaka, and 
following him on to Tanpo, where tbey were again beat«n 
in three sncceasive fights, losing upwards of fifty men, and 
literally hunted out of the district. Yet no sooner bad Te 
Eooti reached Patatere, than a portion of the Ngaiterangi 
and Ngatiraukawa were ready and anxious to share hie 
fortunes. Eepa soon found that Te Eooti had left the 
district, and wrote at once to McDonnell, requesting him 
to follow up and join him at W&imahana ; Eepa then sent 
back 200 of his men, to guard the river against a reported 
movement on the part of Titokowam, while he pushed 
forward to Tapapa. On the 20th of January the two 
columns met. McDonnell had now 600 men under him, 
and he lost no time in commencing operations. On the 
24th, the foroe reached Tapapa. Henare Te Pnkuatua had 
the advance, composed of Arawas, and during the march 
rushed a village, capturing three men and killing another 
who refused to surrender ; they proved to be an advanced 
pioket of Te Kooti's, whose presence was now ascertained. 
The force now camped for the night. McDonnell, intend- 
' ing to attack the Hauhaos' position at early dawn, detached 



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S2S BEBOKISCGNCES OF THE 

Kepa with 200 men to march round the left of the Haohaa 
pah, >o as to b6 ready to take them in the rear, while be 
attacked in front. In the morning a thiok fog obsouted 
the whole oonntry, hiding objects only a few yards distant; 
and MoBonnell delayed the march until the fog lifted. 
Well it was that he did so, for, as the men stood to their 
urns, a heavy volley waa fired from the bnsh only a short 
distance off, and the camp was attacked hy Te Eooti at the 
head of 200 men. Had the morning been fine, the main 
body of our men wonld have been absent, and the few left 
in ohai^e would undoubtedly have been killed. For some 
minntee our men laid down and reserved their fire, as it 
was nearly impossible to say where the enemy were; but 
as the f(^ lifted, the position of our own men conld be 
sufficiently seen to avoid firing into one another, and a few 
volleys drove the enemy back. Topia and his Wangannis 
followed them for some distance ; unfortunately, Eepa was 
absent, or a much more vigorous pnrguit would have 
ensued. Theenemy only lost five men killed and probably 
twice that number wounded. Onr loss was nearly equal, 
being three killed and five wounded. Meanwhile, Kepa 
had not been idle; on the previous evening he had 
leaohed the position assigned to him, and seeing the 
Hauhaua advancing, as he thought, to meet him, they 
descended into a deep ravine, and he awaited their attack 
the whole night ; but aa it did not oome, and hearing the 
firing at Tapapa in the morning, he at once underxtoud the 
movement of the enemy, and turned the tables on them by 
at once charging into Te Eooti's pah. The garrison (few 
in number) fired a vdl^ and bolted, leaving a considerable 
amount of loot, and, better still, eighty horses, sixty of 
which were captured, and the remainder shot. The horses 
were a very serionu Iokb to Te Eooti, as with them he could 
at any moment escape with his Chatham Islanders, 
whereas withont them he wss liable to be out ofi^ as be 
nearly was at Eaiteriria a few days after. Te Kooti 
now conoealed himself with his usual ability, and for some 

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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 827 

d&}-s our Bcoate searched in vain for his trail. On the 30th, 
McDonnell eent Eepa and Tupia with a strong furce to 
ascertain his whereabouts, while he marched in a different 
direction with the same intention ; on his advanced guard 
reaching the vilh^e of Knranni, they received a volley 
&om the Hanhaus. McDonnell hastened up with the 
main body, and found his men in potsseBiuon of the villnge, 
the inhabitants having taken to the bash. While the men 
halted, they were again fired upon from the top of a cliff 
BOQie 500 yards off, which had been scouted only an hour 
previounly. Up to this time, it was doubtfnl whether it was 
Te Eooti's men, or the inhabitantti of the villf^e, whu had 
fired upon us ; but later in the day, our soonte captured 
four men in a village about two miles dUtant, and they 
gave the important information that Te Eooti, with 200 
men, was in the bnsh on the range above the village. It 
being too late to attack that day, Eepa and his men were 
left at Euranni to watoh the place, while McDusiiell and 
his men returned to Tapapa. On the following morning, 
Eepa and Ijieut«nant Preece, with 350 men, entered the 
bnsh at the place from whioh the enemy had fired the 
day before, and found the top of the range lifle-pitted 
but deserted; about two miles further on, a large 
deserted oamp was alho found, which had evidently been 
ooonpied the day previous ; and here the tracks branched, 
one towards Taunnga in the Bay of Ilenty, the other to 
Tapapa, and it seemed evident by the foot-marks the main 
body had taken the latter route. Kepa and his men 
followed np, and hearing voices a-head sent ont scouts, who 
saw fourinen,andfiredon them, though without effect ; but 
one of them, in his hurry to escape, ran right into our main 
body and was captured. Prevarication with the Wanganuis 
would have been dangerous, so the prisoner gave his name 
as Te Harawira, of Ngaiterangi, and fiirther informed 
Eepa that Te Eooti and his men had taken the other track 
leading to Tauranga. This caused a general right-about 
&ce, and onr men followed the other track vig( 



328 ' BEHINIBCENCES OF THE 

some miles, when voices -were again beard. ThU time 
our Boouts were moro snooeesful, a&d sncoeeded in ebootiitg 
a chief of Eereopa's tribe, who waa well armed witb rifle 
and revolver. The line of the enemy's retreat had now 
been ascertained, and Eepa would h&ve followed np to tlie 
end, but that he had left camp without food, and as be 
Gonld not possibly undertake a bn^ march of three or four 
days under such circuiustances, he was again compelled to 
return to camp. 



CHAPTER LXL 
THE TAUPO CAHPAION — eontinved. 



Colonel McDonnell, thinking it possible that bis wily toe 
might double back towards Tapapa, after leading the force 
on falite scent, sent Kepa the following morning with ordera 
to follow the trail of the previous day, and taking 100 men, 
the oolonel himself made a long detour through the langefl 
to ascertain whether the enemy had returned. After a 
long and tedious march, the force camped in the forest. 
On the following morning the march waa resumed, and 
they reached Tapapa in the afternoon without discovering 
any traces of Te Kooti. On his return, Colonel McDonnell 
f»und that 200 of the Arawas, under Lieutenant Mair, bad 
nriived from Bothnia; this completely diearranged hia 
plans, for be depended on these men guarding the tracks 
leading to the Kaingaroa plains, the only feasible line of 
retreat left open to the Hanhaus, Under these oiicum- 
stances, Lientenant Mair waa ordered baok with all speed ; 
he left on the Sid of February, and the correctness of 
McDonnell's views were borne out by the skirmieh on the 
12th at Botoma. Ueuiwbile Eepa waa following the 



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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 329 

enemy in the direction of Tanranga, and the first night ha 
camped, a long discussion took place as fo the propriety of 
giving up this stem chase after a flying enemy. One of 
the principal chiefs tried hard to persuade the Wangaunia 
to return, but old Eawana Paipai, ever on the right side, 
sprang to his feet, and combated his argumentu by de- 
claring that men who feared a little hardship were cowards, 
and, pointing to Captain Morrison and thirty Earopeans 
who accompanied them, said, "Even though yoa go back, 
thene men vrill not." The Kawana was so personal in 
his remarks, that no one cared to contradict him, and 
the column proceeded on its dreary bush march. About 
midday, tracks were seen on the path that led in the 
direction of Tanranga, and soon after, articlea of clothing, 
old muskets and other things, which showed Eepa that he 
was on the right track, and that the enemy were in a great 
hurry, travelling light. On the afternoon of the third day, 
onr men reached a small kainga, on the edge of the bueh ; 
the fires were still alight in the wharex, but alihonghBoonts 
were sent out, they failed to discover the enemy's presence. 
The march was at once resumed, now on a broad beaten 
track which was followed some distance, until traversed 
by a deep ravine, on the opposite side of which was open 
country, and a new earthwork could be seen about a 
mile difftnnt, occupied by a large body of men, whether 
Snropeiuis or natives, friendly or Hauhaas, it was im> 
possible to say. While Captain Uorrieon and the chiefs 
were diecusaing the necessity of discovering who they 
were, the sound of musketry was heard and bullets flew in 
all directions. This lasted for half an hour, and ceased 
as suddenly as it began, to the relief of the Wanganuis, 
who could not possibly understand it, as no enemy could 
be seen engaging the men holding the redoabt, aod it was 
equally evident it was not meant for them. To ascertain 
vho the strangers were was a servioe of considerable 
duiger, for, whether friendly or otherwise, they would be 
sure to fire on any scouts seen, but the thing had to bo 

_ I .Coogic 



330 BEMINISCENCES OP THE 

done, and Captain Uoirison and forty men were sent out 
to do it. They crawled up to the redoubt in tme M«tti 
style, tinseen by the supposed enemy, and, to their aatcmiih- 
ment, found them to be a mixed force of Europeans and 
Maoriea under Colonel Fraaer, whom they could distinctly 
see inside the redoubt. How he got there puzzled everyone, 
aa he was snppoMd to be at Rotoma, ^ardin^ the puses 
to the Uriwera country ; the only difficulty left was to 
make themselves known without beingfired upon. Captain 
Morrison ^ain undertook the duty, feeling assured he 
would not be taken for a Haubau; bat bis bnshrai^ng 
oostame had not entered into his consideration, and the 
•entry would have fired on him bat for the interrenlion of 
Captain Withers. Colonel Fraser, it appeared, had noaTched 
from Botorua to Taaranga viA Uaketn, and from tboioe 
to the position he then occupied. Od the previous day he 
hod fallen into an ambuucade of the enemy, and lost three 
men, one a European of the armed constabulary and two 
of his Arawa allies, the enemy retiiing without loss. The 
ambush was laid at Faengaroa by forty of Te Eooti'e men, 
who had waited until Colonel Fraser's leading files were 
within twenty yards before firing ; and it is diffioult to 
understand how so few men were hit. As ufiUal, they 
zetired before our men had recovered from tlie oonfnsioii 
which invariably attends an ambush. The fact that some 
of Te Kooti's scouts had been seen in the neighboarhood 
explained the cause of the firing, for tlie Arawa dreaded 
Te Kooti, and wished to keep him at a diatcaioe. 

Later in the day they captured an old man, and while 
the captarer was questioning him abont Te Eooti, he wat 
at the same time loading his rifle, with which (after 
obtaining all the information he reqaixed) he deliberately 
blew out his brains. No aatunishment was expressed by 
the natives present, and the body was thrown into the 
bush ; shortly after, another of the Arawas (who wu 
probably sufiering from ennai) dragged the body out, 
threw it into a hole, and made a fire on the top of it, the 

_ I Coo'jlc 



WAB m NEW ZEALAND. 331 

remainder of the tribe being admiring spectators of the 
deed, this naeleas piece of barbarity being quite charao- 
teristto of tbe tribe. Kepa proposed immediate pursuit, 
bat Colonel Fraser ordered bim to wait until the fullowing 
morning, when he would go with him. Had Eepa's 
advice been taken, they mifi^t baveoanght Te Eooti before 
he reached the Uriwera country, for which he was now 
making. Colonel Fraser and Eepa marched in punnit 
next day, leaving Ckptain Morrison his detachment and 
the Arawaa, with orden to hold the redoubt for that day, 
and then to follow up; bnt Colonel Fraser had hardly 
gone an hour, when the Arawaa discovered Ibey were not 
safe in so dangerous a place, and away they went, without 
the smallest compunction for the fate they believed awaited 
Captain Morrison and his thirty men. But their fears 
Inckily were premature, as Te Kooti by this time was far 
on his way to Sotorua, en route for the IJriwera oountry. 

On the morning of the Tth of May, a European named 
Loois Baker, a deserter from H.M.8. Boaario, who had 
joined Te Eooti, came into Ohinemutu and informed the 
natives that he had just escaped from Te Eooti, who was 
in the immediate neighbourhood, and who intended to 
attaok Ohinemntn. This intelligence was immediately 
forwarded to Captain G. Mair, who happened to be doBe 
at hand with 200 men, and who, being uncertain when or 
where the attack would take place, made the beet dis- 
podtioQ of his force possible, by dividing bis men so as to 
guard a long line of country, at the same time leaving each 
party in sacb a positiun that they oonld, at short notice, 
snpport each other. Abont noun Te Eooti showed himself, 
and very nearly surprised, and did fire apoa, a party of 
Ngatiwhakaaue women, who were collecting food on tbe 
edge of the bosh, but they fortunately escaped. Having 
failed in this cowardly attack, he then commenced to burn 
and destroy the houses and cultivations of the inhabitants, 
at the same time offering them terms of peace ; and, strange 
to say, many of tbe Arawa chiefs were inclined to aooept 

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882 EEMINI8CENCE8 OF THE 

them, notably Pet6ra te Fnkaatna, who tried to stop Captain 
Mair from attacking them, and there is little doubt that, 
had that officer not been present, Te Kooti would not tmly 
hava escaped ecot free, but would probably have deluded 
the ArawaB into a belief of his sincerity, and peribrmed the 
Mohaka maasacre over again on a much larger ecale. Bnt 
as Captain Alair did not believe in his siucerity, but Tether 
that it was a mere pretext to gain time for his retreat, 
brought np his young men at the donble, and on reaching 
the top of the hill he eaw that bis suspicions were verified, 
as the Hanhaus were about two miles distant, retreating in 
the direction of Eaiteriria. A sharp run of ha lf an hoar 
brought the two parties in collision : the Hanhaus, nothing 
daunted, turned abont to fight, and after some smart 
skirmishing which had given his women and baggage time 
to get a guod start, they retired fighting. The fight was 
.very unequal ; the hard running had knocked np most of 
Mair's men, only thirty being present, and the enemy tried 
to take advantage of their superiority in numbers by 
making a second stand on the brow of a hill. Led by Fdn 
and Kereopa, they charged mott determinedly, clubbing 
their rifloe as they came on; but Mair's men held their 
ground, and poured in such a steady fire that the enemy 
were driven back, leaving five of tbeir number dead, after 
which the Hauhaue contented themselves with occasional 
firing, keeping np the same rapid retreat. ^ hen near 
Eaiteriria, the Tahourangi and Ngatiiangitihi tribes came 
up from the position they had occnpied, but, instead of cut- 
ting off the enemy's retreat as they were expected to have 
done, they contented themselves with joining in the pur- 
suit. The line of retreat was marked by an oocasional dead 
Hauhau, and towards evening Feka, the half-coate, the 
greatest of ruffians and Te Eooti's best fighting man, was 
shot. Throughout the retreat he had been the leader of 
the rear-guard, and had fought manfully. He was the last 
man killed, for soon after the enemy reached Uie Tnmunni 
buah, where they were safe, for it was now too dark to 



i.vCoogIc 



WA.B IN NEW ZEALAND. 333 

follow on. It was afterwards discovered that the fiDemy 
continued their retreat all through the night, only Btopping 
once to cook potatoes. Their loss was twelve killed, where- 
as oar loaa w^s slight — one killed and three wounded. Oa 
the following morning. Captain Mair tried hard to get the 
Arawas to follow np, but without suooess, for, as usual, they 
thought they had done enough. Some days af^r. Captain 
Mair received information that Te Bangi Tahau (who, with 
thirty men, had left Te Eooti after Tapapa) was following 
np bis leader; he went ont with the intention of stopping 
him, and came across one of the enemy, who had been 
severely wounded on the 7th. Captain Mair would have 
saved him had not one of the Arawae recognised him as 
Timoti Te Kaka, Te Kooti's exeoutioner at Mohaka, the man 
who killed women and children in the wool-shud ; for suoh 
a wretch there was neither pity nor quarter, and a bullet 
put an end to his misery. Te Raugi Tahau was not 
intercepted, fur he had changed his plans, and, separating 
himself from Te Kooti, took refuge with Te Hira, at 
Ohinemuri. After this period Te Eouti's star began to wane, 
and had it not been for the Uriweras, be would koou have 
been without men to do farther mischief. The result of 
this campaign waa creditable alike to the Government who 
planned it, and to the officer who carried it out, and may 
be briefly summed up in a few sentences. At the oom- 
meuoement of the campaign Te Kooti had been joined by 
the Taupo and Tuhua tribes ; and Ngatimaniapoto, if not 
Waikato, awaited the issue, with every intention of joining. 
TopiaTuroaand the fighting tribes of the Upper Wanganois 
were neutral, but doubtful. Within five months, Te Kooti 
had been beaten in five fights, in which he had lost sixty- 
nine men. Topia Turoa had thrown off hia neutrality, and 
entered heart and eonl against him. The Taupo and Tuhua 
tribes bad been detached from their alliance with the aroh- 
rebel, and the King party bad been brought to approve of 
the campaign to eucb an extent that they not only allowed 
bat approved of Kepa uid Topia's march tbroagh their 

L, ,z,;i.,C00gIC 



334 BEHDnaCENCES OF THE 

botrndarios. TeKootihod oertainly BncoeededinreBChiiii 
the Uriwera oountry, but accompanied only by a retnoant of 
his Chntham lalandeTB. and the Uriweras. after the leaBOn 
they bad received, would be hardly likely to be veiy 
friendly with him in the future. Onr losnea thron^oot 
the campaign were fifteen Maoriea and twelve Enropwns 
killed, and twenty-one wounded (chiefly nativee). 



CHAPTER LXII. 

THE FATATERE CAHFAIOTT. 

THE DOINGS OF ROPATA'S COLUMK. TE KOOTTS ATTACT OS 
THE OPAPE SETTLEMENT. FIGHT AT MARAITAHI. DEATH 
OF HAKARAIA. 

Thb Patateie oflmpaign was the Iwt in which Bnropean 
forces were employed ; from henceforth it was to be parely 
Maoi-ies led by their respective chieft, and fortunately for 
the Government, <hey found two men to be depended npon 
in Kopa te Bangihiwinui and Bopata Wahawaha. The 
Arawaa and Ngatikahungunn tribes could not be indnoed 
to take the field under the new i-ystem adopted by Sir 
Donald McLean, viz., of payment in a lump Butai aocordiug 
to amonnt of set vice tendered in place of daily pay. ThiE 
very wholeKome change, if looked into closely, amoimted 
to this : according to numbers killed, so will be yonr paj- 
The last two tribes declining this offer, 'Wangnnui and 
Ngatiporou had tbe campaign to themselves. The former 
under Eepa were to start from the Bay of Plenty, soouring 
the Waimana and Waiueka gorge, while Kopata and hif 
people marched from Poverty Bay upon Maunga Pohatn, 
and thence towards Kepa, with whom he would efiect » 
junction and decide upon further movementM ; in reality, 
each column moved independently of the other, but with 
the seme object, that of destroying t 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. S35 

Te Kijoti. Another but leas important movement wftg to 
be made from the Wairoa upon Waikare Hnana. The 
Dative tribee of the former plaoe were put under Mr. 
E. Hamlyn, and the gallsnt but small Mohaka tribe, 
under Mr. Whitty. No one expected a Bucoessfiil ifsae to 
this expedition, as Mr. Hamlyn'e natives were nut foud of 
bullets. Kopata being the first to ntart, the doings of his 
oolumn claim precedence. They left Poverty Bay on the 
27th February, 370 stron;;, marching up the KgHtapa 
traclt. From thence he struck across country to the 
Upper Ilungarna, over one of the roughest districts in 
New Zealand ; on the fifth day's mxrch the column nrrived 
at an old camp of Te Kooti's, where the bones of three 
persons wt-re found. At first it was supposed tbey had 
been starved or wounded fu^tives from Ngatapa, but from 
information afterwards received, it wai fi)und that they, 
with several others, had died from exhaustion while on 
the march to the Poverty Bay massacre ; having been 
nearly e'atved for a month previously, they could not 
stand the ruHrch, m) were left to die. On the 7th of March 
tlie footjirinlB of two or three persons were seen, and ten 
of the most active of Ngatiporou stripped and went in 
pursuit, delighted with the pmspect of a man-hunt. The 
min were ab)>ent all night, but reiurned the following 
morning, having captured a woman and four children. 
The husband ettcaped ; ho was away at the time of the 
capture, but Ngatiporou laid in wait for him at his whare, 
and he wassonn seen returning wiih a pig on his shoulders. 
When chse tn the whare, his wife called out " Haere mai " 
(welcome) ; this roused his suspicions, for he at once threw 
down the pig and waited. One of his children, thinking 
he wan about to be shot, called oat, and in a moment the 
man darted into the bush and escaped, although the bullets 
flew all around him. The woman stated she belonged to 
the Ngatikohatu tribe, the majoiity of whom were living 
at Maunga Fuliata, the remainder near fieinga. This 
and other information wbioh she gave, decided Bopata to 

DiqilizDdbyGoOgle 



836 REUmiaOENOEB OF THE 

maroli Btnught on the former pltM», and capture the in- 
habitanla, from wboin he oould get reliable intelligeixw 
as to the whereaboata of Te Kooti. The oolaaut now 
advanced in the direction of Maunga Pohatu, the supposed 
impregnable position of the Uriwera tribe, of which it 
had been reported that the track could only be tntvelled 
while the wind waa in a certain direction ; so precipitonB 
were the paths, that men would lose their foothold in a 
high wind. It was alM stated that a southerly wind 
would fill the deep raviDes with snow for weeks, aiid 
prevent all possibility of travel. There was, as usual, a 
grain of truth in this bushel of falsehood, but the nugority 
of our dusky allies and many of oitr own men firmly 
believed the ruport. On the following day, six more of 
the Ngatikowhatu tribe were sorprised and CHptured, and 
the remains of three more of Te Kooti's victima were 
found dead on the track. On the 11th the oolumn reached 
the pah Puui, where they found another skeleton, and one 
of the prisoners gave the following aocount of it. The 
remains, he said, were those of Te Sfano, a chief of the 
Uriwera, who bad come with hie wife to joiu Te Kooti 
just before the massaore. Te Munu was not a man to 
stand any nonsense, and he soon quarrelled with Te Kooti ; 
but, finding himself in danger, he tried to esoape with his 
wife. Te Kooti sent fifty men to pu'-sue them, saying that 
his god had warned him against Te Mano, who was a 
murderer, and would oause their deaths. The chief and 
his wife were caught and brought back to the pah Fani, 
where Te Kooti met them and killed both with bis sword. 
Co the morning of the ISth, Bopata selected two parties 
of sixty men oaoh, placing one under the command of 
Captain Porter, with orders to attack Ngatikowhatu pah, 
while he with the other party attacked the Kgatihuri at 
Toriatai. This latter tribe were the people to whom 
Manngapohatu belonged, a dangerous and rough-dealing 
lot, fiunons in Maori warfare for their courage, and, like all 
isolated tribes who had little intercourse with us and no 



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WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 337 

grievance against na, were our deadly enemies. It certainly 
speaks well for the Europeans in New Zealand, that with 
the exception of Taran&ki, all the tribes who have been 
oar enemies are thoBe amongut nhom no EuTopeans have 
lived and who scaicely ever mixed with us, so could not, 
coneeqaently, hhve any grievunce agaiset us. Captain 
Porter, wishing to capture rather then to kill bis enemies, 
quietly Bunouiided the pah, and, sending forward one 
of the prisoners with a flag of truce, charged after him 
and took all the people, forty in number, pri^touers. Un- 
fortunately the chief Bakiroa, the greatest of rascals, 
was absent with Te Eooti, and so escaped the fate of his 
tt'ibe. Meanwhile, Bopata had not been idle, hut Ngatihuri 
had been more alert, and Toriatai was found abandoned 
and watching the movements of Ngatiporou, for two of 
Eopata's men, straying away in searob of potatoes, were 
fired upon, and one of them killed. Hia comrades started 
in purouit, but the slippery Uriwera were soon out of 
reach — a mode of fighting strictly in accordance with 
their system. Forty yeaiB ago the celebrated warrior 
Kopu attacked and cnptured Maungapohatu, hut he lost so 
many men by ambushes, that he was obliged to retire, the 
conqueror conquered. One of the prisoners taken by 
Captain Porter informed him that Wanganui had visited 
Tauwhare Manuka, and that Eepa had made peace with 
Tamaikowha and his section of the Uiiwera. Although 
the news annoyed Bopata, there is little doubt that Kepa 
was right, for his orders were to catch, kill, or otherwise 
destroy Te Kooti and his gang ; and the best way to do 
this was to detach the Uriwei-as from him, and slthongh 
Tamaikowha was a great ruffian, he had never joined 
Te Kooti, like the rest of the tribes, consequently he 
deserved some consideration 

Bopata, deeming it necessary to ascertain from Eepa 
personally to what extent his peace-making had gone, 
pushed through to Ohiwa, which place he reached on the 
20th, and found Kepa and a few of his men at the village, 



d=,Googk' 



338 BEUINISCENGE8 OF THE 

vrhere this active chief hnd been wasting hia time, in i 
manner Tery nnoeual viih him. After a ahort oonreiMtiGO, 
he iafonned Bopata that Te Kooti waa snppoeed tole ftt 
Waioeka, and that be intended to attack him at once; 
both left immediately for Opotiki, the balk of Kepa's meo 
being already there, having left on the 3rd iostant bywtj 
of Tauwhare Manuka. Kepa took the track which led up 
the Waimana river, and, on arrival at Otara, the redoubt- 
able Tamaikowha called out to the war part; fkmn t}i» 
top of a clifT, asking who they were, and fired a few shoti, 
more as a signal to his men than at the Wangannis : but 
as our men gave him a volley in reply, he disappeared, 
and the foroe moved on to Motuohaa, and camped next 
evening at Kgatnoha, where they were detained for three 
days by floods ; aa all the paths in the Uriwera oonntiy *n 
the beds of oreeks, a small freehet stopa all travelling. On 
the fourth day the force reached Tanwhare Manuka, an^ 
the Bawhiti chiefe advised Kepa to send a messengei 
with a flag of truoe to the Uriweraa, asking them to make 
peaoe. The mission was snooessf^ for Tamaiko^bt 
returned with the envoy. After the nsual salntaticHUi 
Kepa inquired where Te Eooti was to be found, and 
explained that he did not come to trouble the Uriweraa 
llie Hauhau chief replied : " I have not seen him or kit 
people, but 1 am told he has gone to Opotiki, to attach tbe 
Europeans and friendly tribes of Te Whauan, Apanui, and 
Nguitai, therefore I advise yoa to return qnickly, and 
prevent this miaoliief." After more talk, the chief promised 
he would remain peaceful forthefuture, if tbeOovenuiieDt 
would leave him alone, and he assured Kepa that neither 
he nor hia tribe had ever joined Te Eooti. At early dawn 
the following morning, our men returned post-haste to 
Ohiwa, and on the way parsed Te Kooti's trail leading in 
the direction of Opotiki. They had not seen it on the «sy 
up, as they passed the place at night, hut Eepa was mudi 
annoyed at Topia and the Arawas, who must have seen it 
and &iled to send him word. The Wanganni were too 

DiqilizDdbyGoOgIC 



WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 339 

late to prevent this raid of Te Kootd's, for on the 9th this 
enterprising soonndrel had anddenl^ swooped down on 
the Opape settlement, and carried off 1 70 of the Whakatohea 
tribe, thirty of whom were fighting men, and worse still, 
he captured forty gnns and some ammanition, bat the 
percnssion-capa, whidi would have been the greatest prize, 
were saved and carried away by a native who escaped. 
No sooner had the news arrived in Opotiki, than Captain 
Walker sent a message to Topia to hnrry np from Ohiwa, 
and himself started the next morning with a mixed force 
of forty Europeans and Arawas, to reconnoitre. When 
within sight of Opape, seven of the Arawas went forward 
as scoutij, and, as the place seemed deserted, the eooats 
incautiously appi*oache<l too near, for in a moment a volley 
had killed two of them, one, Hetaraka Uaihi, being a 
yonng chief of the highest rank. 

On the following day, Topia, who acted as a sort of 
fifth wheel to the Wanganui coach, arrived, but too late 
for Te Kooti, he having reached the Waioeka gorge, and, 
as nothing could be done without Eepa, he returned to 
Opotiki. In the meantime, Bopata had met Eepa at 
Obiwa, and that same evening, 400 men under Xhree leaders, 
Kepa, Topia, and Wi Eingi, started in pursuit. After 
following the bed of the river for some time, the column 
struck into the forest, and climbed the steep range which 
forms the waterxhed between the Opotiki and Waioeka 
rivers. Their reasons fur this were twofold : first, by en- 
tering the forest, they would be able to conceal their march, 
and would also take Te Kooti's pah at Maraitahi in rear, 
from which point they would not be expected, and woold 
consequently have better ohanoe of success ; and secondly, 
they would avoid the dangers arid dlffioultiefl of the river 
track. On the 23rd, the column reached Uaraitahi, and 
from the range above could see the Hauhans pursuing their 
usnal avocations, evidently nnsuspicious that the enemy was 
watching them. Topia wished to attack at once, but 
Kepa, with greater judgment, determined to advance stilt 
Z 2 



310 BEMINISCENCEB OF THE 

further up th» range, and after dark follow down the 
river, capturing the inhabitanta of the outlying vill^w 
before lie dealt with Te Kooti himself; by bo doing, th^ 
would be ready for Iif araitabi at grey dawn, Topla agreed 
to this plan, and aL dusk 120 picked men under two Ngamnni 
chiufs, Tapa and Um, were told off fur the attack on tba 
first kainga. Kepa's instructions were precise, not to fire 
except under extreme ciroumstances, but to BnirouDd and 
ru->h in before the enemj- had time to resist, bat above all to 
prevent escape. Tapa did his work well, having captured 
sixteen rebels — eight of whom were men. Two oiher 
kaingas were taken in the same manner, not one of the 
inhabitants cEcaping, and towards morning they neared 
the Waipuna pah, where the naaJn body of the enemy, 
under the notorious Kereopa and old Hakaraia, resided. 
Kepa now tuok command, and with 300 men invested the 
pUce in the same nuiseless manner that char;u:t«rised nil 
his proceedings. The Wangannis now charged in, an^ 
found to their annoyance that the Whakatoheas taken by 
Te Kooti at Opape were amongst them ; tliis caused con- 
siderable confusion, as Eepa w^s unwilling to fire indis- 
criminately amongKt them, and the consequence was that 
Kereopa escapes), but old Kakaraia, a most troublewne 
chief, but a man of high rank amongst the Ngaterangie of 
Fatatere, was lecognised and shot by Hunia 3Iei of Wan- 
gauui ; 218 prisoneis of the Whakatahca tribe were taken, 
and of Te Kootis people, eighteen men were killed, and 
thirty-five men and sevoiity-eix women and children tateo 
prisoners. So fur everything had succeeded beyond 
expectation, and Eepa, anxious to take Te Eooti, vas 
pushing forward to Manietabi, when Eopata suddenl? 
appcai'ed upon the scene. Afti:r the meeting with EepSi 
he had camped at Ohiwa for the night, and early on the 
following morning marched for Opotiki, where he expected 
to join him, but to his aatonisbmciit he found that this 
enei^tic chief, anxious to follow up Te Kooti, had started 
after'him the night previous, couseq^uently, Kopata gav* 

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WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 341 

his men twenty-four honrs' rest, and decided to march up 
the bed of the Waioeka, and coniroat the enemy, hoping to 
be in time for the attack, as Eepa and the Wanganuie bad 
a long detoar to make. Hia column met with no opposition 
nntil he arrived within a short dietanoe of Maroatahi, 
where, at the narrowest part of the gorge, the track led 
along the perpendicular face of an immenBo cliff, narrow 
and dangerous at all times, but especially bo if well 
defended ; nor could it be turned, except by the path Eepa 
had taken. It was now defended by a picket of twenty 
men, who were posted on the other side of the pa~B, bur, 
fortunately, the sentry was a mere boy, and he failed lo 
notice their approach. Ngatiporoa daubed through the 
pass before he could alarm the picket, who were diiven 
back in confusion up the river-bed, only to fall into 
the hands of Kepa, who at that moment was descending 
the river after taking Kereopa's pah. Soon after, a large 
body of the enemy came down from Uaraetahi to stop 
Ngatiporou, but the tribe advanced steadily, and was in 
the pah within an hour of the attack on the picket. Te 
Eooti had been left almost alone to defend hia pah, 
and did not leave it until the Mgatiporons, who oould 
not believe he was there, so weak was the resistance made 
to their advance, were upon him. The Hauhaua now 
scattered in every direction through the bush, and, 
although Wanganui and Ngatiporou followed various 
trails, only one man was killed and three were taken 
prisoners. As nothiog further could be gained by re- 
maining, they commenced their return march to Opotiki, 
triamphant over their snocesEea, but, like Merdecai, felt 
it was all as nothing while Te Eooti lived. 



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BEUWISCENGEB 07 THE 



CHAPTER T.xnr. 

OraBATIONS AT WAIKABE HOAHA. 

Os hJM ftrriTal at Opotiki, Bopata fbimd out from one of his 
prisonera that Te Eooti had a store of reserve ammimitii» 
oonoealed in the forest near Maraetahi, and by dint of 
threata he made the man conduct him to it Eight qnartei 
casks of powder were disoovered, but this did not satuff 
Bopata, and, after mach qaestioning, he disoovered a seocad 
plant was known to another of bis pnsooera, whom Bapat* 
placed in charge of a strong escort, with orders to biing 
the powder or return without the man. By thia meus 
twelve more casks of powder and a barrel of ballets 
rewarded the escort for their trouble, and saved the guides 
life. On the 11th of April, Wanganui, anxious to return 
to their homes, were shipped on board a steamer via 
Wellington, and did not again t4kke part in the war, thejr 
feeling that, as their own district was quiet, it did not 
become them any longer to interfere within the bonodaries 
of other tribes. Idgatiporou also left for their faomee on 
the following day, but only to organise another expedition 
t^ainst Te Eooti. The doings of the third column, which 
should have acted &om the Wairoa upon Waikare HoasSi 
was of small account. To this force the armed constabulary 
stationed at Wairoa were ordered to give every assutailW 
short of joining the expedition, to occupy a few posts on 
the line of supply, keep open the communication, &e- 
After considerable persuasion on the part of Uessrs. Ijooke 
and Hamlin, 200 semi-Hanhaus of the Kurupakiaka and 
Eahn tribes were got t<%ether, and started on tlie 6th of 
Harch for Tekapu. The following day a small party 
scouted the Wairoa valley to Te Uamraara, where the; 
managed to walk into an ambush of Te Waru's men, who 
killed the leading file ; this so cooled their ardour that tho; 



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■WAH IN NEW ZEALAND. 543 

fell back, leaving their dead behiad them. The followiog 
morning, Mr. Hamlia prooeeded to the soeue of the ambuBh, 
and found the enemy had decamped, bat he followed 
their trail for some distanoe, until it entered the Rnakitnre 
gorge, when the gallant Wairoas thongbt they had gone 
far enough, and compelled Hr. Hamlin to return to Tet^pn. 
It was his intention to proceed up the Waiau river to 
Waikare Hoana the next morning, but hia men declined, 
having had quite enffioient, and eo the campaign was finally 
abandoned, Hamlin exoUiming in his disgust, " that mine 
enemy might yet command a Maori oontingeot I " 

A few days after, news arrived of the success of the last 
expedition under Eepa and Bopata, and had a favourable 
effect on the Wairoa natives ; for in their eyes Te Kooti 
was no longer an invinoible hero, protected by his own 
partioolar deities, so they also were anxious to have a 
fling at the dying lion. Such being their frame of mind, 
Hessrs Whitty and Hamlin hastened to strike while the 
iron was hot. News arrived that Bopata would start 
about the lat of Hay, and the Wairoas, being excessively 
jeolooB of their ally, stArted on the 25th of April in two 
oolumns, one under Hamlin by way of Whataroa, the other, 
composed of the Mohaka tribes under Ensign Whitty, went 
by way of Pntere, with the intention of working round the 
southern end of Lake Waikare and attacking the Tiketike 
pah. The first attempt was made by the Ruatahona track, 
which, as usual, lay in the bed of a river (Waiau), but a 
freshet stopped the party and they had to return. Nothing 
daunted, Whitty next tried to march round the end of the 
lake ; at any time a work of difficulty, but in winter 
neatly an impoBsibility, the shoree being precipitous, and 
covered with masses of rock and boulders, over which ten 
mites would be a long day's journey, and from the very 
irregular form of the lake its ooast line must extend for 
nearly 200 miles. But Whitty overcame all difficulties, 
until his column arrived at the neck of a narrow branch 
of the lake, which he expected to find fordable, as in the 



344 BEMINISCENCE8 OF THE 

eammer it is a mere lagooo, whereas now the wrnter 
rains had ho flooded it, that to oraw it without canoes wu 
impassible, and to maroh round it would have taken many 
days more than they had rations for. Under these cir- 
cumatanoea, Whitty returned to Te Wairoa, and reported 
the failure of his expedition ; tKe Mohaka tribe retamed to 
their homes by way of Putere, while Whitty, with a few 
of the Wairoa natives, followed Hamlin's track at the foot 
of the Pannikiri range, expecting to overtake him on his 
way to Waikare Moana. Shortly after starting, the tracts 
of three men were seen, and at Putahi their horsea were 
diecovered ; some distance further on, at Te Foho, their 
oven, with the stones qnite warm, showed they had jnst 
left, and our men followed in hot pursuit, until the tnutu 
entered the Waikare Moana bush. Here Whitty'a mee 
declined to go further, but he at last persuaded four men to 
accompany him, and in a potato-plantation he captured the 
Uriwera chief Fataneana, and a woman. The chief^ who 
was partially blind, did Dot see bis captors nctil esoape was 
impossible. He denied all knowledge of the three persooa 
whose trail they bad followed so long, which exasperated 
Whitty's men to such an extent, that he had enou^ to do 
to prevent their shooting the chief. During the next morn- 
ing the trail was found ogain, and followed through the 
bush over the Panikiri range to the margin of lie lake, 
where the original three had been joined by two othen^ 
and all had crossed the lake in a canoe. Thus, after five 
days' clever tracking, our men had to return to Te Wairoa 
with one prisoner as the sole trophy of their expedition. 

Hamlin's column started from Te Wairoa the same day 
as Lieutenant Whitty'a, but had been delayed at Uakakahi 
for some days, awaiting the arrival of Ihaka and the 
Nuhaka men, who sent messengers to say they were on the 
r^iad. They arrived on the 28th, seventy strong, making 
the column up to 200, and the march was resumed on the 
following day. On the 2nd of May, Te Hapimana (fighting 
chief of the Wairoas) took forty men and stmck off to 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 345 

Parftmru, while the main body went on to Wbataroa ; here 
perceiving smoke arieing from the bnsb, he selected 
eighteen of his best men and proceeded in that direction. 
After some trouble, he found the trail of several men, 
which he followed until be came np to their carap, fired a 
few shota into their whares, then chaiged, the result being 
two men and a woman killed, the others escaping. On the 
6th, the column reached the Waikare Moana Lake, and 
found that one of the boats buried by Colonel Herrick in 
18t>9 had been removed hy the Hauhans ; the place where 
the others were buried could not be discovered. Fine 
potAto-plantations, sufficient to provide for the whole force, 
were found, but the Watroa men had again enough of 
campaigning, and informed Mr. Hamlin they intended 
returning to their homes. On the dth, they had reached 
Tukarangi, on their homeward journey ; bnt luckily Mr. 
Wbitty appeared, advancing to their assistance with forty 
men, provided with grapnels for the purpose of raising the 
two large boats which had been ennk in the lake. This 
timely reinforcement raised the spirits of the fickle Maories, 
a portion of whom now declared they wonld return to the 
lake. On their arrival there, a diligent search was made 
for the buried boats : one was discovered in a very service- 
able condition, but of too small dimensions to be of any 
great use. The larger boats sunk in the lake conld not be 
found, but as the enemy's pahe were all on the opposite side 
of the lake, and only accessible by water, the native force 
set to work with a will, and soon completed three lai^ 
canoes. Just then news arrived that Ropata of Ngatiporou, 
dittpleasod with the advance of the Wairoa men, had 
abandoned hia expedition arter capturing most of the 
Ngatikohatn tribe. This delighted the Wairoas, between 
whom and Bopala there was no great love, and oonfirmed 
them in their resolution to cross the lake at all hazards. 
From their position at Onepoto, the enemy could be seen 
daily crossing from their pahs on the opposite side of 
the lake, to the cultivations at Wanganui Oparau, the 



346 BEUINIBCGNGEB OF THE 

northern arm of the Iftke. As this plttoe ooold be euilf 
rebelled bj the force, Mr. HamliD Kdvised that it abonU be 
immediittel; oconpied and ambascaded, with a view. Dot 
only of capturing some of the men, bnt of more importance 
gtilL — the oanoea of the enemy touohing there. This ei- 
oellent adrioo wtm oombated by Foora t« Apata, » great 
chie( bnt greats ooward, and oonseqnently his men 
declined to go, bo that ve mined the chanoo of seouring > 
large canoe with seven men, who were aeea to go there 
the next day. This event happily bronght the Maoriee lo 
their seDsee, and on the following day fifty men mtd^ 
Mr, Whitty started for the onltivationB, and, although the 
weather for two days was too boisterona for any oanoe to 
croas the lake, the third saw two of the enemy approaching 
in a small oanoe, one of whom they shot ; the other ran 
the oanoe ashore and escaped, but Whitty's men oaptni«d 
the canoe and bronght it off in triamph. This was the 
first intimation the enemy hod of onr presence at the lak& 
which evidently aroosed them, for the next day eight lar^ 
canoes and a whale-boat were seen to crwa the lake and land 
nearly one hundred men at Ohiringi, with the appareot 
object of taking onr force at Onepoto in rear. This caused 
Whitty to return, and aid the garrison ; bnt the HaohtnB 
evidently thought better of it, ibr no attack was jnade- 
Hamlin then suggested that fifty men should proceed in 
the night, croas the lake and ma^e a dssb at Tikitiki, u 
the main body of the enemy were evidently at Uataahu. m 
the other side of the lake, in a position too distant to help 
Tikitiki if attacked ; but Paora and Hapimana objected, 
and the Boheme again fell throT^ The following day, how- 
ever, Hamlin gained by stratagem what he oould not do hj 
persuasion. He ordered eighty picked men under Ensi^ 
Whitty to go to Wanganui, Opaian, at the same time 
giving Mr, Whitty private instructions, that on arriving 
there he should induce the Maoriee to cross the lake, and 
take up a position on the other side. The strat^em v»^ 
snoceeefut, for once out of the influoooe of their ohiofe, the 

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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 347 

Mftoriee were brave enoagt, and no socmer had the; oroesed 
the lake than they took poaaenjon of Tanmatataoa. The 
boat and one oanoe landed their men first, and as the plaoe 
appeared to be deeerted, the men oonunenoed to search the 
'wharoB ; but vhile so doing they reoeived a heavy volley 
from the bnsh oloee by, whioh wounded one of the men 
Beverely. Hia oomiadee, taking oover behind the stamps 
and logs, kept the enemy in cfaeok nntil the main body 
oame np, when the Haobans were dxiven back and followed 
fur nearly a mile in the direction of Hatnahn ; the force 
then camped for the night at Tanmatatana, and sent tiie 
boat and canoes to Hamlin for reinforoements, which dnly 
arrived the same night. The next day the enemy made 
another attempt, bnt were observed and fired on by onr 
ontlying picket, and their beat fighting man, Enoka, killed, 
which ao soared them that they did not even wait to cany 
off the body, bnt retreated in sooh haste as to leave his 
rifle and aooontrements behind. It seemed to have been 
the intention of the Haohaua to have attacked ns both by 
land and water at the same time, for now a fleet of canoes 
carrying at least eighty men were seen approaching; how- 
ever, noticing how their comrades on shore had been driven 
baok, they also took fright and retired without coming to 
close qnarters. The next day Mr. Hamlin followed up his 
suooeas by advancing with 250 men against the Matoahn 
pah, a strong position, bnt deserted. Here large qnantitiea 
of potatooa, estimated at 100 tons, were destroyed. The 
enemy had evidently not expected' the attacking party to 
cross the lake, as preparations were made for bnilding new 
wharee and plantiDg fresh crops of potatoes ; bnt now the 
Hanhans seemed th<n-onghly alarmed, and had retreated to 
the extreme sonthem end of the lake onder Hnioran, sending 
their women and children to Bnatahnna, while they awaited 
the further movements of the Government party. Te Warn 
and his men also retreated to Uannga Fobata, feeling very 
unsafe while so near the men whose relatives they bad 
murdered in 1866. On the 16th of Jnne, Hamlin met three 

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348 REMINISCENCES OP THE 

of the Hanhau chiefs under a flag of truce. They espTet«ed 
themselveKanxiouB to surrender, but stated they weresfrud 
he wouldtnakethemprisonerB,andi^Dd them to gaol; tbm 
they would lose caste among their people. They then 
suggested that, if Ht. Hamlin and his force woold retniD 
to the Wftiroa, they would live peacefully for ever after. 
This pruposition was refused, or rather declined with 
thanks, and they were given to understand that uoleesthey 
could give some subBtantial guarantee for their future be- 
haviour, active operations would be resumed. Te Mabriiii, 
chief of the Lake Hapu, was willing enough to surrender, 
but old Paerau, of Euatahuna, was unmanageable. At Uct 
it was arranged that Te Makarini should cross the Hni- 
arau range to Buatahuna, and try to induce the whole 
of the tribe to surrender, Mr, Hamlin, on his part, pro- 
mising to suspend operations uutil his return, although 
be seized all the canoes and destroyed all the potatoes be 
oould lay his hands upon. Towards the end of the monih, 
Makarini returned, having failed in his negotiations with 
the tribe; but he himself, vrith seven men and three women 
and children, surrendered to the Government. He staled 
thatmnny more would surrender when they had got o»er 
the dread of what the Government would do to them for 
their share in the affair at Mobaka. The chief also said 
that his tribe had suffered severely during the campaign; 
six men had died of cold and exhaustion while crossing the 
snowy-covered Hniarau range, and four others, who vrere 
miiiising, were supposed to have met with the same M«, 
while two others had been drowned in crossing the Ifcke. 
The surrender of Makarini ended the campaign, the 
friendly 3Iauries returning to their homes ; and from th»t 
time to the present the Uriweras have lived a quiet and 
peaceful life. 



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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 



CHAITER LXIV. 

TE KOOTl's BAID OH TOLOOA BAY. 

After the defeat aud diepersios of the Haubans at 
MaraetaM, Te Eooti retired with the remnant of hie 
followers to Te Wera, a wild tract of bneh country on 
the hordera of the Uriwera, vrhoaa tracks, clearlnge, 
and faamesseB were known only to that tribe, though, at a 
later period, Ngatiporon and the native contingent, under 
Captains Uair und Preeoe, must have known every bill, 
80 thoroughly did they search it. 

In this terra incognita, Te Eooti remained hidden from 
his pursuers, revolving in his mind many a dark deed of 
murder and violence, which want of men alone prevented 
hia patting info execution. 

Among his followers were some of the Hauiti tribe of 
Tolc^ Bay, and these people persuaded Te Kooti that he 
had only to appear at that place to be joined by numerous 
lecraits. This idea met with prompt approval from Te 
Eooti, being thoroughly in accordance with his some- 
what Mahommedan sysrem, the Koran or the sword, only 
that he was less merciful than those stem fanatics, 
inasmuch that he generally commenced by killing a few, 
poTiT encoarager lea autret. It waa with these views th«t 
Te Eooti and about fifty followers suddenly appeared 
befoie one of the smalt inhmd villages of the Hauiti, and 
captured a Maori named Peka, who with his wife and 
two children wei-e the only inhabitants. 

Peka was brought befoie Te Eooti, and onlered under 
pain of death to give all the information in his power; 
this the captive did not do, though he took care to appear 
in as favourable a light as possible, until he could get a 
chance to escape. 
He must have played his cards well, for he got the 



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350 EBMINISCENCEa OF THE 

ohimoe, and with one botind h« was out into the darkness 
and away to warn hie friends, heedless alike of the random 
shots fired afin him, or the probable &te of his wife and 
children. Like most Maories, be oonsidered his dnty to 
bis tribe paramount. The Hauhaus followed closely OQ 
the steps of the fogitive, and shortly after daylight came 
across a few indnstrious individuals, who proved the truth 
of the " early bird " proverb in a manner nndreajnt of by 
its author, for one of them was shot and two Troiiiided. 
This very rongh-^ud-ready system of making friends 
spoilt Te Kooti's ohance, fur the Hauiti expressed their 
feelings by returning his fire, and sent off messengers to 
Poverty Bay, repoi-ting the raid, and asking immediate 
assistance. Captuiu Porter responded to the oall, and led 
about fifteen volnnteera to Tologa, amvit^ there the 
following day. Next morning they were joined by 200 of 
the Hauiti tribe, and, despite the torrents of rain, followed 
Te Kooti'a trail to Mangahan, a bnsh range, from which 
the smoke of the enemy's fires oould be seen. 

The Europeans wished to push on at once, but the 
Maories refueed, giving as their reason that the ammtmi- 
tion would get wet in snoh frightful weather, and the 
rifles be useless. Under these oireumstanoes the force 
camped. The next day the weather was equally had, but 
OQ the third day the rain ceased, and the column started 
round the base of Mangahan, so as to take the Hauhaus 
in rear, and cut off their retreat. The Pakehas led tbe 
column until within a mile of their destination, when tlie 
]U!aoiies refiieed to go on, tinless they were allowed to 
lead the way, ob they feared that the Europeans, anxious to 
kiU Te Eooti, would fire indiscriininateiy into the Haubaus, 
and perhaps kill Peka's wife and children. To prevent 
difficulties, they were allowed to take the lead, until tbey 
arrived within 100 yards of Te Eooti's camp, when 
Captain Porter disposed his men in such a manner, that, 
bad Hauiti obeyed his orders, the enemy wonld have been 
completely surrounded. 



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WAfi IK NEW ZEALAND. 351 

The Haohans were camped on ft small open flat in the 
forest, named Te Uapna, and the fifteen Europeans were 
on a terrace aboTO, not more than twenty yards from 
their huts, but diTided from their foes by a deep creek. 
Te Eooti was seen and recognised by several of the ' 
Poverty Bay settlers, and could easily have been shot, aa 
he was not more than thirty yards from our men ; but 
they withheld tbeir fire, trusting that Htiuiti would 
perform their share of the work loyally. All appeared to 
be going well, and the destmction of the enemy seemed 
certain, when the usoal accidental explosion of somebody's 
gnn took place, and in a moment our valiant allies opened 
a terrific fire upon nothing in partionlar. It is soaroely 
ueoeBKary to remark that none of the Hauhans were hit ; 
but it served the purpose for which it was probably 
intended, and prevented all pursuit, for neither Europeans 
noT Maoriea cared to cross the line of fire, on the chance of 
not being hit. Captain Porter tried it, but was glad to 
retire, after taking Hnhaua (Te Eooti's wife) prisoner. 
This woman informed her captors that forty of the 
Hauhaus had started on their return march to Te Wera 
about an hour before our fiasco, and that there were only 
eight men left with Te EootL The unfortonate shot 
thai spoilt one of the best opportunities of ridding the 
island of its greatest mffian was either the effect of 
treachery, or fear lest the woman and children before 
mentioned might get hurt in the m616e, and was fired to 
warn them in time ; for my own part, I incline to the 
former belief. The results of the skirmishes related in 
this chapter went &r towards settling &e native difScnlty 
on the east coast. Te Eooti had for the last timesucoeeded 
in getting a number of men together under bis oommaud, 
only to have tliem beaten, and scattered like sheep, by 
Wanganui and Ngatiporou. The bush tribe of Ngati- 
kowhatu, devoted followers of Te Eooti, had been broken 
up, and a portion of them captured; and last, but not 
least, the Uriwera tribes of Waikara Uoana bad been 



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352 BEMINISGENCES OF THE 

forced to make peace whether they "onld or not Out 
lohsea were small, being three killed and one wornidt^ 
while the eneiay had twenty-three killed and lost eighlj- 
niiie pris<jners. 



CHAPTER LXT. 

bopatVs contikoed seabch afteb te eootl 

DuRiNQ the month of May, 1870, Ngatiporou reenmed their 
search after Te Eooti. 

The principal object in this expedition was, howerer, 
the capture of the fugitives of the Wairoa, Ngatikowhatu, 
and Poverty Bay tribes, who had been more or less iiD' 
plicated in the Poverty Bay or Uohaka maasacrea, m^ 
were hiding in the same foreat-clad ranges that still 
ehelterod Te Kooti, and were always available as a rein- 
forcement for his murderous raids. They were, moreover, 
a source of onnoyanoe and conlusion to those searching fo>' 
Te Kooti. Often, after following a trail for days, ourine'' 
would find that they had been in pursuit of one of these 
small parties of rebels, and thus perhaps lost the opportoni'? 
of capturing the arch-rebel himself. Under these circuni- 
stances, Bopata decided to capture and make priaoneis ttie 
scattered bands inhabiting the district lying between 
Miiungapobatu and Te lieinga, and take them to Waiapiii 
where they ^vould bo under the surveillance of Ngatiporou. 
On the 13th,.the main body camped at the Wathau lakes. 
and a kokiri of seventy men proceeded to the Auapn-a-tsi 
vill^e, but found it deserted, the inhabitants haviog 
been warned by the man who escaped from the fornix 
expedition. 

A second kokiri sent to Whenuakura was more suooessliil' 
for they took twelve prisoners, and leamt that othern of 
the tribes were living at niiakapunaki, a remarksl^ 

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WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 353 

linieatone moantain, disdnguiahed ia Maori tradition aa 
being tite home of the laat moa. 

A party started in pursuit that same evening, and 
suoceeded ia capturing the people of a Bmall village, from , 
whom they reoeived information that there was another 
.village Borne distanoe up the Buakiture rivar, near Fuke- 
tapu. Thia place was also surrounded; many of the people 
were too old to be mischievous, but eight men, two women, 
and twelve children were brought away. Que of the 
prisoners informed Bapata that the villages of Whataroa 
and Orewha had been burnt or destroyed by a Wairoa 
expedition, aud that heavy firing had been heard in the 
direction of Waikare Moaua. This intelligenoe so annoyed 
the chief, who had hoped to capture the people living in 
that neighbourhood, that he returned to Poverty Bay, 
with the intention of starting again in the spring. Before 
returning, he left a letter addressed to the remnant of 
Ngatikowhatu, advising them to snrrender, and assuring 
them of fair treatment. This letter soon bore fruit, for 
hardly had the expedition reached Poverty Bay when the 
ohief, Bakiroo, five men, and a woman, arrived and sur- 
rendered themselves, banding in six rifles as a proof of 
their sincerity. Thus the whole of the Ngatikowhatu 
tribe, eighty-six in number, were now in our hands, and 
powerless for harm; in &ot, like true Maories, t^ey were 
now anxious to guide us, and fight against those with 
whom they had so lately consorted. 

No further movement was made daring the winter, but 
in December of the same year Bapata received orders to 
proceed with 200 men of his tribe to Buatahuna, with a 
view to oollecting the scattered Uriwera, and thus with- 
drawing them from the influence of Te Kooti. It was 
further proposed that Bapata should remain at Bnatahuna 
for some time, so as to prevent Te Eooti receiving recruits, 
either by foroe or enticement. These views were approved 
by both Paerau and Te Whenuanui, ohie& of Bnatahuna, 
who were in Napier on a peace mission at that period. 

a A 



354 BEUINIBCENCES OF THK 

The expedition sUrtod on the 14th of JanTiary, 1871, for Te 
Wera, where tt woe reported that Te Kooti was then liTuig, 
and on the 2oth the colnmn reached the waterahed between 
^the two oouts. Te Bakiroa, late Haahao, and penoo*! 
friend of Te Kooti, acted as gaide ; and although he wts 
travelling throngh his own country, so dense was the foreet 
that he lost his way oontinnally, rendering &eqaent halts 
neoeeeary that he might climb trees bo as to get tin 
general direction of their march. Nothing oonid he woiw 
than the travelling through thia oonntry. Tbiok scrnhby 
bush interlaced with Eupplejacka covered the hUlsidM, 
which were exoessively steep, eo that for days the colama 
hod to follow the nuruw beds of monnt&in torrenta, over 
slippery rooks, where & false step might be serious, for each 
man carried nearly forty pounds of biscuit, besides blankets, 
ammunition, &o. None of these things could be replaced in 
a black biroh forest, where a rat can barely live, and when 
the traveller will hardly ever hear either lard or insect. 
An extract fi^m Bapata's journal ia worth repeating here, 
so oharaoteristic is it of the mao, and of the difficulties en- 
oonnterad by him, during some of the winter expeditions: 
** Perhaps we shall all die from the ookL and snow brought 
l^ the southerly wind I No ; we will not die from the cold : 
if we were the descendants of Buaimoko we might do so, 
but we are the ofispring of Tongia, who thought on); 
of weaving, and making the rough garment the pski. 
Buaimoko was lazy, and cared only for fine clothes, bo that 
the women might take a fancy to his party. When he got 
to Te Pakira, near Hikurangt mountain, he was pursued by 
Tongia, who found the whole party frozen to death ; and 
their bones lie there to this day. It is from thinking of our 
ancestor Tongia I have made these remarks. His thonght- 
fuhieas has descended to us, who now carry tents and doth- 
ing to protect us bom the cold ; and it is only by these meant 
we shall be able to cany out thia great work. Perhaps 
some of our friends think that what we are going throngh 
is only the ordinary work of a oampaign. Can it be decided 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 355 

by those who live in comfortable honses what (be extent 
of this work is? No; the magnitude oan only be aacertained 
by treading it with the feet" 

On the 22nd, Henare Fotae, eeoond in oharge of the . 
expedition, knocked up and waa nnable to march. This 
delayed the main body, but Bapata, with 100 men, started 
in li^bt marchiag order to search for indications of the 
enemy. 

Some of his men returned the same evening, having 
separated irom the main body and lost their way. They 
had wandered about the forest for nine honrs before 
they coald find their way baok to camp. The wonder is 
that they ahonld ever have found it in such a country, for 
Europeans never would have done so. On the following 
day tweoty-five of Bapata's men returned, with orders for 
the main body to join him and bring on the ratious. He 
had surrounded Te Kooti's pah at Te Wera, and, finding it 
deserted, was about to follow a recent trail, which he 
hoped would lead him to the arch-rebel's stronghold. 
The tracks led in the direction of Haraetuhi, which was 
out of the direct line to Buatahnna; but the prospect of 
oatching a prisoner from whom information might be 
extracted a la Maori, was too alluring, and the tnul wae 
quickly followed. 

On the 30tb another of Te Eooti'e deserted pahs was 
found, and in one of the wbares two letters were discovered, 
addressed to Te Turuki (one of Te Kooti's namee). One of 
these letters was from an Uriwera chief of Maungapohatti, 
asking fur information as to his future movementa. The 
second was from one of the Chatham Islands prisoners, 
named Maika, who informed his leader that the Uriwera 
were going over to the Fakeha. At the junction of the 
Eahuuni and Waioeka rivers, the leoent sleeping-place of 
the three men waa found. They had evidently only left 
that morning, and, not knowing they were followed, had 
written their names with charcoal on a piece of board. 
One of the Hanhaa guides recognised them as men who 
2 A 2 



.Coogic 



358 BEMINI8CENCE8 OF THE 

had Beparated from Te Eooti after hia escape from Tolugi 
Bay, some montha pre'viuuelf . Ngatiporcra bad now been 
eighteen days un the march, and had ne&ily finished their 
supply of bisinits ; and as it was necessary to replenii-li 
before going further, Rapata decided to send to Opotiki 
for supplies. 

Captain Porter with eighty of the sfrongeat men went 
on this duty, while Bapata proceeded to the Waimana, to 
interview the Wriwera chief Tamaikowha, and atnertajn 
his feelings towards Te Eooti. Porter started from Uarae- 
tahi on February 2nd, and shortly after found tracks of 
men, one of whom wore boota. Thisfactledhimto suspect 
that they mast be Government natives, who had been sent 
up from the coast; under these circumstances he ordered 
bis men not to fire, but to take the intruders prisonert. 
Ngatiporou started in pursuit, and in avery short time came 
up with Captain Swindley and four natives, who Lad come 
up from the Bay of Plenty to retxinnoitre. They probably 
owed their lives to S wind ley's boots and Porter's prudence. 

After resting a few days, the eighty nten started again, 
each man carrying fifty pounds of biscuits, which would, 
with his arms and other tmpe<iim«nta, amount to about 
aiuety pounds per man, and on the 9th, they reached the 
mouth of the Waimana goi^e, where they found Bapata. 

The meeting between tbia chief and Tamaikowha had 
been stormy, but bad ended satisfactorily. While at the 
vill^e of Tauwharemanuka an answer was received to a 
letter written by Bapata, asking the Uriwera to assemble 
at Tanski to meet Ngatiporou. The answer was inso- 
lent ; they simply refused to allow booted feet to pass the 
boundaries of Manugapohatn. Bapata took but little 
notice of this message, and, resuming his march, arrived 
at Tawhana on the 13th. Here they met the Tuhoe tribe, 
wildest and most savage of bnshmen. 

A spectator might well have fancied himself in the New 
Zealand of Captain Cook's time, so wild and fierce was the 
appearance of these people. Their long hair was tied up in 



WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. 357 

a buDch, like the scalp-lock of the American Indians, and 
ornamented with white fnatherBi the effect was ferocions 
in the extreme. In their speeches to Ngatiporou they 
denied that Te Eooti was a man of crime, aiding that the 
slaughter of women and children was only an old Macvi 
oustum. Like all the inland tribes, who conld have no 
grievance against ns, they expressed nndying hatred to 
the PEikeha. 

On the 14th , another letter was received from the Uriwera, 
stating that if Rapaoa persisted in going to Te Tauaki they 
should leave the place. Ngatiporou still advanced, and 
fonnd that the Hauhaus had done as they threatened, for 
there were none but very old people in the village, who 
informed the invaders that all the fighting men had retired 
to Te KakarL Ngatiporou followed, and this persistenoe 
had the deaired effect, for the meeting came off at last. 
Althongh the Uriwera showed great dietrust, they behaved 
quietly, but firmly refused to go to Ruatahuna, and would 
acknowledge no authority but that of their own chiefs. 
They also denied all knowledge of Te Kooti, with snob an 
air of sincerity that it puzzled Ngatiporou to decide as to 
whether they were speaking the truth or not. An accident 
decided the question. Some of Bapata's people came aoroBS 
a half-mad woman, who mistook them for Te Kooti's fol- 
lowers, and a few judicious questions elicited the fact that 
Te Eooti was at the Papuni. This clue was fulliiwed up, 
and it was aeoertained from an old man that Te Eooti had 
been at Te Tanaki a few weeks previously, and that his 
hiding-place was somewhere near Te Haupapa. No time 
was lost in starting ; and during the first day's march the 
tracks of a man were seen — proof poailive that some of the 
Uriwerss had preceded them, to warn Te Eooti. The trail 
was followed un til the 2nd of March, when it became evident 
to Bapata that his men, who had been living on hinaa 
berries for some days, could not hold out much longer. 
They bad been on half rations for sometime previously, 
and were so much exhausted by want of food that it waa 



.Coogic 



358 BEHINISCENCE8 OF THE 

doubtful if they oonld reaoli the nearest eettlement, T« 
Wairoa. The porNnit waa oonsequently abandoned tot 
tlie present, and thirty pioked men, nnder Captain Porter, 
were sent to Te Wairoa, to get biitoait bronght out to the 
main body, who oonld hardly orawL The thirty men were 
not in muoh better condition, and wonld hardly hs^e 
reached their deHtination had they not oome acroeB a fe« 
■elf-BOwn potatoes in a nnall olearing. This helped tbem 
on to the Waihan lakes, where fortune placed a ainall 
pig in their way, which raiaed their spirits mightily. At 
Wbenuaknra some of the old people of Xgatikowhatn in- 
formed Oaptain Porter that the Maongapohatu people kept 
Te Kooti regularly informed aH to the movemente of tbe 
expeditions. A plentiful anpply of bisoait having been 
received, Ngatipuron lesamed the chase on the 19th. At 
Orewha the fresh tracks of a man were found ; a few active 
men were sent in pnrxuit, and on the second day captured 
one of the enemy, who had only left Te Eooti a fortnight 
before. His information woe to the effect, that Te Eooti 
was at Te Hanpapa, to which place he offered to gnidethe 
column. He also staled that there were three pahs there, 
but that only twenty-four of the Hauhaua had guns, aod 
that they were supplied with clotliing by the Wairoa tribes. 
The weather at this period was abominable, and tbe diB- 
oomfort was increased by Bapata refusing to allow fire^ 
for fear of being discovered by the enemy. On the thiid 
day the column reached Te Haupapa, which was eilentlj 
surrounded, bnt was found to be deeeited, and showed nu 
signs of occupation for at least a fortnight. This wa< ■ 
bitter disappointment to men who had been nearly three 
months maivhing throu<^h dense forests, nearly always «et 
through and often half-starved, only to find the enemy's 
stronghold deserted. The Hanbau guide (Tantala j did his 
work well throughout the march, and, after reaching Te 
Haupapa, guided Bapata to a cave where Te K.aoti kept 
his valuables. 

Sir rifles, two watohe8,some money, and other articles, 

C,.;,l,ZDdbyG00gle 



WAE IN NEW ZEALAND. 369 

were fonad here, and taken posseaeion of. The position 
of Te Haupapa was admirably ohoeen as a hiding-place. 
Sitnated in the least known part of the TJriwera country, 
the small piece of open femland, snrroimded by high 
monnlaina, was hardly likely to be disoovered except by 
accident. Again Te Kooti had escaped the beet laid plans 
of his enemies ; bnt there vag still a chanoe of capturing 
him at Anaru Mutete's pah, which Tautafa stated was on 
the orest of the Mokonuiaraugi range, at no great distance 
from Te Haupapa. 

The oolnros started at once, and, on reaching the sammit 
of the range, divided into two parties ; the one nnder 
Bapata proceeded to Wharekopai. the other, ander Captain 
Porter, to Anaiu Uaf ete's pah. The latter party was so fitr 
unfortunate as to be disooTered by a woman who had been 
placed aa sentry on a high roek above tbe pah. The 
Hanhaus, alarmed in time, escaped to the bush ; but, in the 
ohase that ensued, two men and several women and children 
were captured. Anaru Matete and his brother escaped by 
sliding over a cliff, and thus shook off Ngatiporou. 

On the following day Bapata returned Buocessfiil ; he had 
enrronnded "Wharekopai and captured all the inhabitants, 
viz., the ohief Tamati, twelve men, and the usual number 
of women and children. One of the prisoners, when 
questioned, stated that he had heard Te Kooti say that he 
would go to Tahuna Tana. This was enough for Bapata, 
who at once told off three parties of thirty men each to 
scout the forest in search of this place. 

Only one of the detachments found the village in question, 
and captured a man ; but Te Kooti was not ihere ; and as 
none of the priaoners seemed to know his hiding-place, 
Bapata concluded that he had left the district, and ordered 
his men to return homewards. 



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BEUINI8CENCE8 OF THE 



CHAPTEE LXVI. 

THE LAST EXPEDITIOS IK PUBflDIT OP TB KOOTl. 

TE KOOTI SURPRISED BY CAPTAIN PORTER AT BDAHAPC. 
CAPTURE OF KEREOPA, A.ND ESCAPE OF TE KOOTl IKIO 
THE KING COUNTRY. 

A FOURTH expedition, which Bfartoi from Poverty B»y i« 
the following June, adopted a different system to th*t 
hitherto employed. In each of the former afTain tiie 
whole of the men had marched in one colnmn ; they wen 
now divided into fonr parties of fifty men each, whiA 
would greatly increase the chanoea of snocens, as in avoiding 
one detachment the enemy would possibly fall into tia 
clntches of another. The leaders of the fonr parties were 
Bapata, Henare Potae, Captain Porter, and Rulcn Aiatnici- 
The first plaoe visited was the Whakapuoaki. where R^ 
pata captured three of Te Kooti's men. They had left their 
leader about six months previously, and had made no 
attempt to rejoin, as they were under the impreeeion tbst 
he had been captured. This was suffioient evidence that 
the enemy were not in the neighbourhood, Bapata thersfot^ 
pashed on to Tahnna Taua, to communicate with Pcrtsr- 
That officer had visited the latter place, and found it 
deserted ; he had then gone on to Moeroa, where, from tbe 
summit of a hill, he had seen smoke rising from the fonet 
far away among the ranges. These firee could only have 
been made by an enemy ; messengers were therefore oe- 
epatched to hurry np Sapata and Henare Potae. HeaTy 
rain prevented the junction for two daj's, but on the 25tli 
the column marched in the supposed direction of the smokft 
Captain Porter guiding by means of a prismatic oomp*«S 
to the great disgust of his men, who looked with contempt 
on the instrument as a new-fangled invention. 

Despite their contempt, the compass proved better thu 



:, Google 



WAB EK NEW ZEALAND. 861 

their judgment, for on the evening of the 26th traces of 
two man, and, soon after, a deserted camp were seen. 

Soonting parties were sent out, and, after some days of 
weary work, returned nnBucceeeful, the Hauhaos having 
evidently adopted their old plan of scattering in different 
directions, to meet again at (<ome place previouely named. 

Throughout the march the weather had been cold and 
wet, and the biscnit was beginning to fail. One man, 
who wandered off in search of food, lost himself, and 
probably peritthed of cold and hunger. Bapata was un- 
willing to return without doing something more thun had 
been achieved ; so Captain Porter was sent with eighty 
men to get sapplies, while Rapata continued the search, 
living on hinau berries. 

Porter rejoined on the 10th of July at Te BAnpapa, and 
found that the whole country in the neighbourhood had 
been scouted, bnt no trace of the enemy found, except their 
deserted camps. This confirmed Bapata's belief that Te 
Eooti had no fixed plaoe of abode, but was continually on 
the move, to escape capture. Ngatiporou had suffered 
severely from the oold and hinau berries. Fourteen of the 
men, as they were unable to march and were an incum- 
bronoe to the expedition, were sent to Poverty Bay under 
escort. Bapata now marched to Te Wera, but was still 
unable to find his long-aonght foe ; our men had suffered 
severely from the winter rains and severe climate of the 
Uriwera mountains, and two more of their number bad 
wandered from their companions and perished. They felt 
thMr want of success strongly. Each of the formerexpedi- 
tions had been productive of some good, but this one had 
hitherto been a complete failure, and they were only too 
delighted to receive information that Te Eosti was in the 
neighbourhood of Waikau Moana, sixty milea distant, for 
in that case there was no disgrace in not finding him. 

The column now returned to Te Wairoa, and in August 
resumed the pursuit in two columns. A hundred men, 
under Bapata,marohed,vi&TeFutere and WaianTiver,ronnd 



i.vCoogIc 



362 REHtNISCENCEB OP THE 

flie eonthem end of Waibire Huanft; while tlm other 
diviKion, of eqiirtl Htrength, nDdar Captain Porter, tooktha 
track to the Fapnni rouDd the northern end of the Uke. 
The plan uf proceedings was, that if either party found Te 
Eooti'e trail, thef were to follow it independently of tba 
other ; if, howeTer, no trail was found, then both otJiiiniu 
were torendesTomon the western nhore of Waikan Hoana. 
Bapata's march waa nnimportant in ita results, and need 
not be described ; bnt at Te Papnni Captain Porter atrad 
a well-defined trail, leading from the lake towarda Has- 
ngapofaatu. A halt waH called, to ascertain if there wen 
other traoett in the neighbourhood ; finding none, the trail 
waa followed for a few miles, until it waa suddenly lost, 
by the Hauhana having scattered in every direotion. A 
short conitnltation wiis now held, and Kgatiporou decided 
that the enemy had seen them, and had adopted this 
meaanre to throw them off the scent Snch was indeed 
the caee, for it waa afterwards learnt &om a priaoner that 
Te Eooti waa actually in camp on the oppodte aide of the 
range when Ngatiporon first discovered the trail ; and a 
acout posted on a high hill had reported to Te Eooti that 
he had seen a tall Pakeha (Captain Porter) standing on a 
rook in the river-bed. A day and a half were spent in 
searching for a place where the scattered tracks would 
join, and at last a place was found where about eight man 
had met. The trail led towards the least known part of 
the Uriwera country, and was followed for two da}'8, every 
moment becoming plainer and more marked, from other 
fagitivee having joined. Almost the whole of the third 
day was occupied in ascending a high range, bnt the 
pursuers were rewarded when they gained the sumKut, by 
seeing a column of emoke rising ffom the neit valley, 
about two miles distant. Porter, knowing what a alippeiy 
enemy be had to deal with, decided to attack at once. 
Forty of the least reliable men were left on the range 
with the baggage, the remaining sixty left in very light 
marching order, stripped for the fight. Their advance 



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WAE m NEW ZEALAND. 36S 

was necesBarily bIo-w, sa caution had to be observed lest 
the enemy's Booute ahonld discover their preeence, aud it 
waa dark before they reached Te Kooti's camp. 

To attack under these oircumBtaDoee woald have been 
madneea, for the enemy had the advantage of knowing the 
ground, and cjould escape easily. Oar men oonld only 
crawl as close to the oamp as posj-ible, and lie quiet in 
their half-naked state throngbont that cold winter night, 
anxiously awaiting daybreak. Te KootiB camp was in 
a small clearing, in the centre of which waa an old 
bark whare, occupied, as it was afterwards ascertained, 
by the rebel and his wife; the rest of the Haahaos 
were camped on the lower edge of the clearing, under 
Bhelt«r of some fullen timber. Just before dawn Captain 
Porter proceeded to put Itu plan of attack in operation, 
by eending twenty men under Henare Potae round 
the right of the clearing, and twenty more under Bnku 
Te Aratupn rouud the left, with orders to enclose the 
eoemy as much as possible ; while he himself took the 
centre close to camp, by the fallen timber. When these 
movements were complete, Kuku was to step into tiie 
clearing and call upon the enemy to lay down their arms; 
if they refused, a heavy orosa fire was to be opened on them 
from all sides, particularly maiking Te Eooti, who was 
known to many of our men. 

While these orders were being carried out, an old woman 
got up iu one of the whares and began to gather wood for 
a fire, and a dog, scenting the ambusb, began to bark. 
The old woman hunted it with a stick, and at the same 
moment a woman, who was instantly rec<^nised as Olivia 
(Te Kooti's wife), came out of the detached whare, and 
Te Kooti's voioe was heard enquiring what had alarmed 
the dog. Some of the men answered " Nothing," and were 
ordered to cook food at once. 

By this time several women were astir lighting fires, 
and one of them was quietly cutting wood from an immense 
log behind which six of Henare Potae's men were lying. 



i.vCoogIc 



364 REHINISCEKCES OF THE 

Capf&io Porter was anzionRly awaiting the dgnil bj 
Baku, when he was told tbat Henare Potaa's men ven 
stopped by a cliff. He proceeded to ascertain the tmih 
of the report, and foand, as lie suspected, that there ra 
no cliff, bat that the men were ekulkiag. After mikiDE 
them take up their poeitions, and urging them to behiw 
properly, he returned to hie own diviBion, expecting evei; 
moment to hear Buku aummon the enemy to surrender: 
but, before the warning could be given, two ebotB were 
fired by Potae'a men. In a moment the clearing wm filW 
with naked men and women, running for their lives. 

Onr men had no time to single out Te Kooti, as Hs 
vhare was hidden for the time by the fugitives from fw 
lower camp ; all they oould do was to open an indis- 
criminate fire, and charge through the fallen timber. Tim 
took some little time, and only two prisoners were taken U 
the clearing — Olivia and another woman, both of whom bid 
the preitence of mind to remain quietly in their wbaiw- 
At the report of the first shot Te Kooti had burst throngii 
tiie back of hU whare, and shouted, " Ko Ngatiporoo, lena 
kia wbai morehu " (It ia Ngatiporon, save yourselvM} 
Several sharp encounters took place in the clearing, b"' 
cone of our men were hurt. The enemy in their retreat 
scattered in the usual manner, and were closely followed 
Several were captured, but only one man succeeded iJ 
coming up with Te Kooti'e party, and be, being alone, di^ 
not care to fire upon nine men, but he suoceeded in cnttWS 
off and capturing a girl who l^ged bthind. A notoricis 
ruffian, Wi Weliikore, was among the prisoners taken ; W 
he did not live long, and found no sympathy from either 
paity. He, leaving only a short time before, murdered hii 
wife and child because they were an incumbranoe to him- 
The total caanaltiea of the enemy in this surprise a' 
Buahapu, was eleven killed and thirteen prisoners, tJie 
latter chiefly women. Next day, Caplain Porter pnahed 
forward to Mamigapuhatn, but was delayed by sno* "" 
the Opokeri ranges for twelve days ; it lay several fe*' 



by Google 



WAB IN NEW ZEALAND. 3G5 

thick in the valleys. Dnriog this detention, two Uriwera 
cbiefB Tieited the camp, and informed Captain Porter tbat 
several Haultaaa Iiad lert Te Eooti after the fight, and 
irere then at Tanaki, anziouB to euri'ender if their lives 
were spared. Two men were sent to fetch them, and 
retnmed withTnatiui, and some others of less note. They 
reported that Te Kooti had only niae men with Mm, all 
the others having deserted. 

Ngatiporou, like all Maoriea who have had a slight 
snocess, ihonght they had done euoogh, and wished to 
return to their homes ; but Captain Porter oompromised 
with them by going to Opotiki for supplies. 

Here, contrary to tbat officer's expectation, most of his 
men left ; but as thirty of the Ngaitai tribe volunteered 
their services, the desertion did not matter, and he 
rutumed to Maimgapohatu with a mixed force of seventy 
men. Here be boped to meet Rapato, from whom he had 
been separated more than two months. Captain Porter had 
now proof that the Ngatihuri Uriwera had assisted Te 
Kooti on many occasions ; he therefore deteimined to 
surprise Tanaki, where it was probable that Te Eooti 
might have taken refuge. This plan was carried out, but 
nothing suspicious 'was found, and the inhabitants were 
virtuously indignant that they should have been suspected. 
To prove their bond fidet, they informed Porter that Te 
Whiu and others of Te Eooti's gang were at the next 
village, Te Kakari ; thither our men bent their way, and 
Burronnded the Eainga, to the great alarm of the people, 
who-msfaed for their arms. Porler calmed them down, 
by sayiug that he was looking for Te Eooti, that he knew 
Ngatihuri were friendly to that nifBan, and would therefore 
take them prisoners to the coast. 

This speech greatly impressed Ngatihuri, and brought 
old Puehu (who had never previously met or spoken to 
the Government party) to his feet. He said he had 
determined to have nothing more to do with bad men ; and 
he ended by handing over one of Te Eooti's followera, who 



866 KEMINISCENGE8 OF THE 

bad taken refuge with him. This ended the prooeedingK 
The following day the oolunm marched fur Bnatahimt. 
and had got about a mile un their road when the Bound d 
heavy vulleya of muaketry in rear made them retnm. On 
their retnm they found Rapata, who, with hix detaohment, 
had followed their trail (ix>m the Papnni to BoohapQ, ud 
thence tu Manngapohutu. 

Next day the united oolumn inarched for BnatshnM. 
where, ae it was Bapata'a policy to humble the Uriweit, 
he built a strong pah. When anked why he took ao niach 
trouble, he replied, "I may have to live here for yean. 
Ton say yon cannot catch Te Kooti or Eei-eopa, »o I ahsll 
have to do it." 

This reply horrified the TJriwera, who were by no mean* 
desirona of haTing Ngatiporou for neighbours ; and from 
tbia moment they began seriously to think of catching 
the two chief offenders. A small party of them were wnt 
out to look for Te £ooti ; they came up with him, an^ 
wonnded one of his men. Information was also given aa to 
the whereabonta of Eereopa. They said he was living it 
the head of the Whakatane gorge, and Heteraka, late friend 
of Te Kooti, offered to guide them. The offer was accepted, 
and a party of picked men started under hia gnidann- 
When within a fow hnndred yards of the village, Eereopt 
and To Whiu were seen sitting ontaide the whaiea; »• 
the same moment they caught sight of onr people, aod 
atiempted to escape. Heteraka called on Te Whin to stop, 
and he did so, fearing nothing from his own chief, ts^ 
then joined in the pursuit, a ia Maori, Under ordinary 
oiroamatances Eereopa would have escaped, but Te Whn 
was a fiuQouB runner, and was not to be beaten ; moreoTH. 
he had the advantage of knowing the route Eerec^ 
would take; oonsequently Eereopa was captured quieil.T 
enough. He seemed rather astonished that ha was not 
shot at once, but soon recovered his spirits, and remarked 
that he knew his luck would be bad because, when hi 
swallowed the Bev. Mr. Volckner's eyes, (me of them stuck 

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WAB IN NEW ZEALAKD. 367 

in his throat. Kgatiporon did not remain long in the bnsh 
&ft«r the capture of this celebrated mfBan, bat returned 
in triamph to their homes; nor did they again trouble 
Te Eooli, vrho soon after escaped acroas the Taupo pUins, 
and took uhelter wilh the King part}* in Waikato. 



CONCLUSION. 
Six years have now passed away since Te Eooti reached 
the King country, and, although several murderers and 
other lawless charaoters have taken sanctuary in the same 
district, the pol.cy of our Native and Defence Minister, 
Sir Donald McLean (now passed away), and hie Buccessors 
in o£Bce,haB been to wait rather than again plunge the 
colony into war. TbouAands of euiigranls have in the 
meantime been brought out to the country, while the 
genial nature of the climate of New Zealand has so con- 
tributed to the increase of the popnlalion that the Maori 
has alieady acknowledged his inability to ooutend longer 
agaimit the white man, and has in a measure bowed to the 
circumstances. Onr former goTemor, Sir George Grey, 
who had retired into private life in his island home, 
has again come furward to onr assistance, and as premier 
of the colony has really more power to carry out hie policy 
than he had as governor. The results have been already 
felt and seen ; by his friendly visit to King Tawhiao himself, 
in the Waikato country, on the 4th of February, 1878, 
the first step was taken towards breaking up the isolation 
of the Hauhan, and again cementing the bond of friendship, 
which has so long bteu broken ; persoasion, with Maories 
like most other human beings, having had mere effect than 
threats. The incidence of taxation is also being gone into; 
and, for the fnture, those who have most will have to con- 
tribute most, by the introduction of a property and income 
tax, the only real fair and equitable metikod of raisitig a 



i.vCoogIc 



368 THE WAB IN NEW ZEALAJO). 

food to oury on tte goTemment of a oonntry, Tht 
parchMe of Maori U&da will bo Bimplifiod, while not quI; 
retrenchmeiit in every department will be studied, but all 
those imports which press on the Daceaa&riss of life «ill 
be graduiilly removed. No ooontry in the -world l»s »1 
preBcnt a better proepeot of a fntare than New Zealand, 
and no climate in the woild better auits an Snglifihinu't 
oonatitntion. 

T.W.G. 



by Google 



APPENDIX. 



LIST OP KILLED AND WOUNDED DUEING THE WAB 
FBOM 1860 TO 1970 INOLUSrVE. 



»■,: 



is" 



B^^^mtin-] 



CTimsroDTDir 
Pntakotu . . 
Poataka . , 

Hiboatahl ! 
Ball Bkak 
roDtnka ■ . 



NptUm. 

(Tuuukl ■nd NriU- 
I numal. 

HnlinunUpato, 

NgttUwa. 
TvuukL 

WHkato ud Hn- 



Wiilata. 

HgktUlra. 



APPENDIX. 



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EoropMuu .. .. 460 .. .. 766 .. 
Friendl; QfttlTM ■■ 23» .. .. 159 .. .. — 
BebeliutiTea .. 17R5 .. .. «18 .. .. 1447 

KoTB.— The low of the rebel UaoriM ia waiuded it ii impoaoUetB 
MoertaiD, I have therefore onlj noted thoaa c— oa in whloh Um cnto} 
admitted partionlai Iobm*. 



by Google 



by Google 



by Google 



by Google 



by Google